Umar: There needs to be a 3rd presidential contender

Former Minister of Home Affairs Umar Naseer has commented that there needed to a third contender participating in the presidential election in addition to presidential candidates by Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) and Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP).

In an interview in the VTV show “Fas Manzaru” last Sunday night, Umar said he will be participating in the presidential election in 2018 as an independent candidate.

Umar, who resigned from President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom’s administration as his Minister of Home Affairs, said he had abandoned intention of participating in the ruling PPM’s presidential primary, and would directly target the presidential election as an independent candidate.

“If I am to participate in PPM’s primary, I want PPM’s electoral affairs to be organized by another body. If that is the case, I will still participate in the PPM primary,” he said.

Umar said that there wasn’t any other figure in the political field at the moment except for him to compete against PPM and MDP.

He said he will compete in the upcoming presidential election with the vote of two-thirds of PPM voters and half of voters unaffiliated with any political party.

Umar said he was open to a coalition, but will be starting off the presidential race as an independent candidate.

He also criticized the Maldives United Opposition movement, declaring that it was just a name blowing in the wind with no substance to it.

He said that neither former President Mohamed Nasheed nor the current administration were honest.

Using football metaphor, Umar said that the ball which reaches him with the hopes of Maldivians to select him as the most honest and fair presidential contender would be struck straight inside the goal.