Adeeb to Jameel: Do not use my name to gain political clout

Former Maldivian vice presidents Ahmed Adeeb Abdul Gafoor and Dr. Mohamed Jameel Ahmed have engaged in verbal spars, with the former taking to the social media X on Tuesday to accuse Jameel of using his name to gain political clout.

The remarks come after Jameel and other top officials from former president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom’s People’s National Front (PNF) recently accused Adeeb of holding secretive meetings with President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, including one during the president’s unofficial visit to Singapore last week.

Yameen alleged that President Muizzu and Adeeb – both of whom had been members of his cabinet – had a close relationship, and that President Muizzu had also profited from the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) graft scandal.

In a post on X on Tuesday morning, Adeeb said that it had been Jameel who ended Yameen’s presidency by launching the anti-government movement Maldives United Opposition (MUO) in 2015. He said that Jameel had served as president of the MUO and also listed his name as an advisor MUO while he had been in jail.

“I did not meet President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu!” said Adeeb.

“I ask that you do not use my name for political clout!”

2015 ވަނަ އަހަރު އަޅުގަނޑު ހުރަގޭގައި އޮއްވާ، MUO ކިޔާ ހަރަކާތް އުފައްދާ އޭގެ އެޑްވައިޒަރަކަށް އަޅުގަނޑު ލައިގެން @MJameelAhmed އެހަރަކާތުގެ ރައީސަކަށް ހުންނަވައިގެން ނޫންތޯ ރައީސް ޔާމީނުގެ ވެރިކަން ވައްޓާލީ !

އަޅުގަނޑު ރައީސް ޑރ މުއިއްޒު @MMuizzu އަކާއި ބައްދަލެއް ނުކުރަން !

— Ahmed Adeeb (@Ahmed_Adeeb) September 3, 2024

President Muizzu has also denied having a close personal relationship with Adeeb or meeting with him during his recent visit to Singapore.

Meanwhile, Abdul Raheem Abdulla, the Parliament’s speaker and President Muizzu’s closest aide, said that President Muizzu had been among the people who Adeeb “hated the most” during their time together in Yameen’s cabinet.

Adeeb, who was sentenced to 20 years in prison in connection to the MMPRC graft scandal in 2020, received a presidential pardon in 2023 by then-President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.