Primary Election results were rigged, claims Umar

Umar Naseer, who lost Saturday’s Primary Election of the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM), has claimed that the votes were rigged to favour his rival Abdullah Yameen.

Umar said while speaking at a rally held by his team at Artificial Beach tonight that he was aware, when he decided to contest in the PPM Primary, that ‘the referees and the linesmen of the match’ were biased. He said that Yameen’s team circulated ‘black money’ in order to influence voters, and also ticked both names on some ballot papers in which the voters had ticked Umar’s name, in order to cancel the votes.

Umar also noted that no ballot box was placed in Thulhaadhoo; however, Thulhaadhoo was included when the results were announced.

Umar said that he congratulated Yameen following Yameen’s victory in the election, but he would not support Yameen as long as he works with ‘corrupt people’.

He accused Deputy Speaker of Parliament Ahmed Nazim of being ‘the most corrupt person’ in the Maldives, and said that he would not support Yameen if he works with people like Nazim in the Presidential Election campaign.

Umar said that he would bring about a ‘White Revolution’ to the Maldives as well as to PPM.

PPM Primary temporary results show that the election was won by Yameen with 62.97 percent of votes, while Umar received 35.82 percent.