Yameen again asks senate to decide PNC 'backup' candidate

PPM presidential candidate, former President Abdulla Yameen on Wednesday made a third request to the senate of PPM affiliate People's National Congress (PNC) to decide their presidential candidate to be nominated by the PNC as a backup candidate.

This comes after the Elections Commission (EC) rejected Yameen's candidacy form on Tuesday, citing that he did not meet the requirement of a presidential candidate in light of his 11-year prison sentence.

Yameen has filed a constitutional appeal against the EC's decision, and the Supreme Court has on Wednesday accepted the appeal. The Supreme Court has asked the EC to submit its written response by 3pm on Thursday.

In his latest note to the PNC, Yameen has not nominated anyone as a presidential candidate. Instead, he has asked the senate to take a decision on the candidate.

The leadership of the PPM-PNC confirmed to Atoll Times that they will be meeting Thursday morning to discuss the amendment to the PNC charter, which will allow the senate to nominate a presidential candidate without a primary. The senate is expected to meet on Thursday evening to make a decision on the presidential candidate.

It is learned that there is some disagreement within the leadership of the PPM-PNC about who should be the presidential candidate. Some leaders want the presidential ticket themselves, while others want to be the running mate. There is also some speaking in favour of choosing former Vice President Dr Mohamed Jameel Ahmed, who has already been chosen as Yameen’s running mate, as the candidate.