Adhurey to Nasheed: PPM already has a candidate and a running mate

Abdul Raheem Abdulla (Adhurey), the acting leader of the opposition coalition comprising of Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) and People’s National Congress (PNC), has clapped back at the Parliament Speaker Mohamed Nasheed’s invitation to appoint a member of PPM as the running mate of his party, The Democrats’ presidential candidate, citing PPM already has both a presidential candidate and a running mate.

Nasheed, speaking at the opening ceremony of The Democrats’ party centre in Addu City’s Hulhudhoo district, stressed the importance of PPM’s assistance in the party’s political activities. On this note, he added that the party will hesitate to face the elections alongside a running mate from PPM.

Commenting on Nasheed’s remarks, Adhurey told Sun on Monday that there was no reason for PPM to accept an offer to become the running mate of another party.

“This party already has a candidate and a running mate. Henceforth, PPM does not have to become a running mate of another party,” he said.

Speaking further, Adhurey said PPM was the biggest political party in the Maldives no matter what other political parties conceive of PPM.

PPM and The Democrats have held discussions previously. Adhurey, with reference to these discussions, said they came to a stall over The Democrats’ prioritization of the presidential election.

“We wanted to discuss major issues engrained within the country. However, they wanted to discuss the presidential elections, as the election is close,” he said.

The presidential candidate of The Democrats for the presidential elections slated for September 9^th is Hulhudhoo MP Ilyas Labeeb. Meanwhile, PPM’s presidential ticket was handed to their jailed leader, Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayyoom, who is presently serving an 11-year prison sentence. Former vice president, Dr. Mohamed Jameel Ahmed has been appointed his running mate. Nevertheless, Yameen’s candidacy remains contentious as his appeal continues at High Court.