Yameen again asks leadership to nominate PNC 'backup' candidate
The Elections Commission (EC) on Tuesday rejected Yameen's candidacy as the PPM's presidential candidate due to his 11-year prison sentence.
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By
Mohamed Muzayyin Nazim
Former President Abdulla Yameen on Tuesday made a second request to the leadership of PPM-PNC to send their suggestion to be nominated by PNC in case the jailed opposition leader is unable to contest the presidential election, top officials from the coalition have confirmed.
Main opposition PPM-PNC on Monday asked Yameen to pick a "backup candidate" among the coalition's leadership, after the former president asked the leadership to send in suggestions for PNC's presidential candidate and running mate.
After the Elections Commission (EC) on Tuesday rejected Yameen's candidacy as the PPM's presidential candidate due to his 11-year prison sentence for bribery and money laundering, Yameen again asked the leadership to send their suggestion for a backup candidate to be nominated from PNC, top officials from PPM-PNC told Atoll Times.
There are three candidates in both parties who are interested in the PNC ticket:
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PNC President Abdul Raheem Abdullah
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PPM Vice President and Male mayor Dr Mohamed Muizz
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PPM Vice President and Th. Guraidhoo MP Gassan Maumoon
The PPM-PNC has said that it will appeal the EC's decision to disqualify Yameen. His running mate and lawyers' team leader, Dr Mohamed Jameel Ahmed, has said that he is confident that the Supreme Court will confirm Yameen's candidacy.
Some of the candidates were hoping for the presidential ticket in the event of Yameen's failure to contest.
While there were some who were hoping for a presidential ticket where Yameen could not run, the members of the PPM senate on Tuesday indulged in a heated argument and levelled allegations against each other.
