Nasheed asks PPM supporters to vote for Ilyas

The Democrats' founder Mohamed Nasheed on Tuesday urged supporters of the main opposition PPM-PNC to vote for the Democrats' presidential candidate Ilyas Labeeb in Saturday's presidential election.

Nasheed posted on X saying that it is very important that President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih does not enough votes to secure a spot in a runoff. 

"PPM members and supporters, please vote for candidate no. 7, Ilyas Labeeb. It is very important that President Solih does not go to a second round if we are to find a way other than President Solih," Nasheed said in the post.

The PPM-PNC presidential candidate is Male mayor Dr Mohamed Muizz.

Some PPM supporters responded to Nasheed's post on X and invited supporters of The Democrats, a breakaway party the parliament speaker founded after quitting the ruling MDP, to vote for Muizz.

Nasheed has previously tried to form a coalition of opposition parties, including the PPM, to contest the presidential election and field a common candidate. Discussions continued but failed because the PPM refused.

Former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom's wife Fathimath Ibrahim, who appeared for the first time at a campaign event, was greeted by Nasheed on Monday.