Jameel: PPM will have a candidate, Muizzu contesting for ‘worst case’ scenario

PPM’s leader, presidential candidate, former president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom’s lawyer and running mate, Dr. Mohamed Jameel, citing PPM will produce a candidate for the upcoming presidential elections, has remarked Male’ City Mayor Dr. Mohamed Muizzu is contesting the election on coalition partner PNC’s ticket for ‘worst case’ scenario.

Yameen, in his appeal of Elections Commission (EC)’s rejection of his candidacy form to Supreme Court, has even requested a court order for additional time for PPM to produce another candidate, under circumstances he loses the appeal. 

Responding to a question from press regarding the matter after concluding the hearings, Jameel, noting PPM was the second largest political party in the Maldives, said there is no way the party will not produce a candidate for the election.

“If there is an alternative, it will be a PPM candidate. PNC, as I believe, is the worst case scenario,” he said.

Although Yameen is fighting for his candidacy to be declared valid, he asked PNC to produce its own presidential candidate as a “backup”, in case he loses at Supreme Court. 

The PPM-PNC leadership had asked Yameen to select a presidential candidate from PNC at his own discretion thrice. However, he declined the request all three times, leaving it to the senate to decide.

The senate decided to contest the upcoming election on Thursday and voted Male’ City Mayor Dr. Mohamed Muizzu as their candidate, who contested with Maduvvari MP Adam Shareef Umar, PNC’s deputy leader. Muizzu won by a difference of two votes.

Jameel said a candidate from PNC is contesting in case Yameen’s appeal does not conclude in time and based on the court’s judgment, does not have time to produce an alternate candidate.

Nevertheless, he expressed hope for Yameen to win his appeal, and the subsequent inclusion of his name on the ballot papers.

Hearings in the Supreme Court case which commenced at 4:00pm Friday evening conclude at around 11:20pm. If justices require no further clarifications on any matter, the judgment is next for the case.