EC slates draw to decide candidate numbers for Wednesday

Elections Commission (EC) has slated the draw which will decide the candidate numbers among all eligible candidates who have applied to contest the upcoming presidential election for next Wednesday.

EC’s Vice President Ismail Habeeb, in a tweet on Friday, said the draw has been slated for August 9, Wednesday, from 4:30pm to 5:30pm, at Dharubaaruge’s Rannabandeyri Maalam.

He noted that if the presidential candidate cannot attend the draw, he may appoint a delegate to represent him. Habeeb said details regarding the matter will be relayed by EC to the candidates.

The much-awaited presidential election is set to take place on September 9^th.

Candidates who have confirmed will contest in the election are President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih on main ruling MDP’s ticket, Jumhoory Party’s leader and presidential candidate Qasim Ibrahim, MNP’s leader and presidential candidate Colonel (Retired) Mohamed Nazim, Ilyas Labeeb on The Democrats’ ticket, Male’ City Mayor Dr. Mohamed Muizzu on PNC’s ticket and former Home Minister Umar Naseem and MRM’s leader Faris Maumoon who are contesting independently.

EC’s rejection of PPM’s leader and presidential candidate, former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayyoom’s candidacy form has been appealed to Supreme Court. The preliminary hearing of the appeal is presently ongoing.

Muizzu, won PNC’s presidential ticket during an internal election held on Thursday to elect a ‘backup’ candidate to represent the opposition PPM-PNC coalition in the presidential elections, at the instruction of Yameen.

The deadline to file candidacy for the presidential election is Monday, August 7.

EC states they will place 604 ballot boxes for this year’s election; a number subject to change once the re-registration process is complete.

A total of 283,272 people are eligible to vote in the election.