Top JP officials including ex-VP Jihad join PPM
In addition, the names of some of the JP members who will support Muizz in the second round were also announced at the meeting.
By
Fathmath Ahmed Shareef
Six members of the Jumhoory Party (JP), including former Vice President Abdullah Jihad who has been serving as Special Advisor to JP Leader Gasim Ibrahim since February, joined the main opposition PPM-PNC on Saturday.
Former members of other parties including JP also joined the PPM at the rally held near Maafannu Madharusa on Saturday evening.
Jihad has been involved in Gasim’s campaign. In addition to Jihad, the following also defected from JP and joined the PPM on Saturday evening:
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Former Health Minister Irthisham Adam, who is the JP’s special advisor
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Dr Aishath Ali Naz
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JP Youth League President Yamin Rasheed
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Hassan Mughnee, former advisor to Gasim
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JP council member Ali Ibrahim Didi
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JP council member Fazeel Ali
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JP council member Mohammed Shahid
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JP council member Mohammed Nazil
In addition, the names of some of the JP members who will support Muizz in the second round were also announced at the meeting. These include:
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JP council member Ibrahim Zaki
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JP council member Abdullah Hussain
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JP council member Dr Mohammed Inan
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JP council member Hussain Zamil
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JP council member Dr Ibrahim Shiyam
After discussions with the PPM-PNC and MDP, which went to the second round, the JP council meeting decided not to support any party in the second round of the election.
Afterwards, the party leader, Gasim Ibrahim, issued a statement addressing the party members saying that every member will have the opportunity to support the candidate of his choice without using the party's name. With that, some of the party’s leading members and councillors are taking the side they want to be in the second round and expressing their support for a particular candidate.
