Muizz calls off presser with no reason cited

PPM vice-president and Male mayor Dr Mohammed Muizz has called off a press conference that he had scheduled for Wednesday in his own capacity, postponing to a later date.

Muizz invited the media to a special press conference he was going to hold in his own capacity at his own home at 2:30 pm. 

The press conference was postponed to a later date with just 10 minutes to the scheduled time.

When asked why the meeting was suddenly postponed to a later date, he did not respond.

The press conference was scheduled to clarify the allegations that Muizz was trying to contest the upcoming presidential election on behalf of the PPM. It was also a meeting to show that Muizz was behind opposition leader, former president Abdulla Yameen.

Muizzu could not be reached for comment.

When asked about the press conference, Yameen's election agent, PPM Secretary General Mohamed Tholal told Atoll Times that the party did not know the reason for the press conference and its eventual cancellation.

"We don't know at all. The meeting was not discussed with us and it was not related to us," Tholal said.

When asked about the allegations that the press conference was instructed by Yameen, Tholal said he was not aware that Yameen had asked Muizz to hold such a press conference.

However, he said the party would not interfere with any press conference held by any party member in their own capacity.

The deadline for nominations for the September 9 presidential election expires on September 7. Yameen's candidacy form has not yet been submitted.

Nominations for the September 9 presidential election are being accepted from 9am Sunday to 2pm on August 7 from the election headquarters at Dharubaaruge.

The opposition PPM-PNC has handed over their presidential ticket to Yameen.

Meanwhile, opposition leaders have called on the authorities to postpone the presidential election slated for September 9 until a decision is taken on the candidacy of their jailed leader, former president Abdulla Yameen.