Former Police Commissioner Riyaz receives Kinbidhoo ticket upon joining JP

Former Commissioner of Police Abdulla Riyaz has been given the ruling coalition ticket to run for Kinbidhoo seat in the upcoming Parliamentary Election, after he signed the membership form to join Jumhooree Party (JP).

After signing the membership form at a ceremony at M. Kunooz, Riyaz said that he decided to join JP because he wants a career in politics.

He said that he was open to joining any party within the ruling coalition, and that he joined JP because the coalition gave Kinbidhoo ticket to JP.

“I could have joined any party within the ruling coalition. I joined JP because Kinbidhoo ticket was given to JP. My priority was the constituency; I’d decided to join whichever party that got the Kinbidhoo ticket, be it MDA, JP, PPM,” he said.

He said that he decided to run for Kinbidhoo seat because his native island Thimarafushi is already quite developed, and he wanted to focus on less developed islands near Thimarafushi.

When asked about the process followed in granting JP’s ticket to Riyaz, JP Leader Gasim Ibrahim said that the party, as per its regulation, has the authority to grant tickets to capable candidates without holding primaries.