Muizzu wins PNC's presidential ticket

Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, the mayor of Male’ City, won a vote taken by the senate of the People’s National Congress (PNC) on Thursday, securing the party’s presidential ticket.

Muizzu secured the ticket with 25 votes, while his rival, Maduvvari MP Adam Shareef Umar, won 23 votes.

PNC – the coalition partner of the main opposition Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM), decided to contest the upcoming election after the Elections Commission (EC) rejected the candidacy of PPM’s leader and former Maldivian president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom due to his criminal conviction for money laundering and bribery.

Yameen contested the EC’s decision with the Supreme Court, and asked the coalition to produce a presidential candidate from PNC as a “backup.”

Muizzu had served as PPM’s deputy leader until Thursday, when he switched to the PNC to contest the party’s primary.

Muizzu has extensive experience within the government, including seven years as the country’s housing minster. He spearheaded some of the most noteworthy projects run during Yameen’s administration, including the Sinamale’ Bridge, construction of 7,000 housing units, reclamation of Hulhumale’ Phase II, and the construction of the 25-story Dharumavantha Hospital.

He has a PhD in Civil Engineering from the University of Leeds.