Campaigns conclude ahead of Saturday polls

Presidential candidates have concluded their campaigns at 6:00 p.m. today, ahead of polls tomorrow, Saturday 7th September.

All four candidates concluded their campaign with mass rallies and colourful celebrations across the country. Elections Commission has announced that all parties must conclude their campaigns by 6:00 p.m, as stipulated by law.

Candidate number one, Jumhoory Party candidate Gasim Ibrahim and Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) candidate, presidential candidate number four and former president, Mohamed Nasheed ended their campaigns with a mass rallies in the capital Male’.

Candidate number two, Forward with the Nation coalition candidate, current President Dr. Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik had made his last campaign effort through an event in Haa Dhaalu Kulhudhuffushi in the north, while Progressive Party of Maldives candidate, Abdulla Yameen, candidate number three, concluded his campaign with a motorcycle rally in the streets of Male’.

In addition to their main events, a number of rallies with motorcycles, lorries, cars and pick-ups were held all around the country this evening.

Sun journalist station in Haa Dhaalu Kulhudhuffushi, Ahmed Saail reports that a large number of supporters from MDP and PPM were seen driving in lorries and motorcycles on streets of the capital island of Haa Dhaalu Atoll.

He said that the Gasim's Jumhoory Coalition and Waheed's Forward with the Nation Coalition were not seen actively concluding their campaign on the streets, but said they had also marked the end of the campaigns in the respective campaign posts.

Reporting from Gaafu Dhaalu Thinadhoo, Sun reporter Murshid Abdul Hakeem said that the central island in the south saw a mass rally by MDP, and a special tea by PPM in their campaign post, to conclude their campaigns.

Murshid reports that the Forward with the Nation coalition, along with PPM had hired pick-ups to make rounds around the islands with loud speakers reading out campaign slogans and campaign songs, as a last attempt to win voters.

He said that Jumhoory Party also celebrated inside their campaign posts in Gaafu Dhaalu Thinadhoo.

Concluding their campaign in Addu City, the southern-most atoll, PPM supporters had poured onto the streets in vehicles.

Sun journalist in Addu City, Hussain Hassan said that PPM’s mass vehicle rally began at Hithadhoo, and ended in Feydhoo. Similarly, MDP had held their campaign conclusion events in the Addu City Link Road. Hussain said that campaign conclusion efforts the Forward with the Nationa Coalition was notable absent from Addu City.