The Progressive National Congress (PNC) is set to finalise its candidate for the upcoming presidential election at a crucial council meeting scheduled for 4 p.m. today. The decision comes as Male’ City Mayor Dr. Mohamed Muizzu and MP Adam Shareef have formally submitted their candidacy for the PNC ticket.
The PNC, in coalition with the PPM, has taken the strategic decision to field a presidential candidate in the event that former President Yameen is barred from contesting due to his criminal convictions. The Elections Commission (EC) has already rejected Yameen’s candidacy form, and the matter now rests with the Supreme Court, which is expected to deliver its verdict tomorrow.
Per the PNC constitution, the presidential candidate is typically determined through a primary. However, due to time constraints, the party’s council has assumed the responsibility of selecting the candidate.
Male’ City Mayor Dr. Muizzu, who was the Vice President of the PPM, resigned from the party and joined PNC shortly after the PNC council decided to field a candidate. Joining him in the race for the party ticket is MP Adam Shareef, who is the Vice President of the PNC and the former defence minister under President Yameen.
As the deadline for interested candidates to submit their candidacy for the PNC ticket expired at 2 p.m. today, the focus now shifts to the council meeting where the PNC will decide between Dr. Muizzu and MP Adam Shareef as its official candidate.
The senior PNC-PPM leaders say that they are closely monitoring the developments surrounding former President Yameen’s candidacy, knowing that the Supreme Court’s verdict will play a critical role in shaping the party’s electoral strategy.
