Following the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the Elections Commission’s denial of his presidential candidacy, former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom has urged his Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) led opposition coalition to boycott the upcoming president election if they believe his rights have been infringed upon.
Some media outlets have reported that Yameen sent a written note to the opposition coalition leadership after today’s Supreme Court ruling, asking them not to contest the election, and the matter has been discussed among senior party figures.
The news comes at a time the PPM’s coalition partner, the People’s National Congress (PNC), has selected Male’ City Mayor Dr Mohamed Muizzu as a backup candidate in the event that President Yameen is deemed ineligible to participate in the election.
According to reports, certain members of the party senate are questioning the authenticity of the note. Their scepticism stems from from the seeming inconsistency of Yameen’s position, given his earlier agreement with the PNC in nominating Muizzu as an alternative candidate.
