EC accepts President Solih and Nazim’s candidacy forms

Elections Commission (EC) has announced their decision to accept the candidacy forms submitted by main ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP)’s presidential candidate, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and Maldives National Party (MNP)’s presidential candidate Colonel (Retired) Mohamed Nazim citing they meet the necessary requirements.

The decision was announced by EC’s Vice President Ismail Habeeb via a tweet on Sunday night.

The president’s candidacy form was submitted to the elections center in Dharubaaruge, Male’ City, by his campaign manager, Kinbidhoo MP Mohamed Nashiz on Sunday morning. He was accompanied by top officials from the ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), and the party’s coalition partners.

MDP has partnered with Adhaalath Party and the Maldives Development Alliance (MDA) for the election.

President Solih’s running mate this time around is the parliament’s majority leader and parliamentarian for North Hithadhoo constituency Mohamed Aslam.

Nazim, the parliamentary representative of Dhangethi constituency, submitted his candidacy to EC on Sunday morning, shortly after President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s candidacy was filed.

Nazim presented his candidacy form to EC’s chairman Fuad Thaufeeq, at the elections center, located at Dharubaaruge. He was accompanied by his running mate, Dr. Ahmed Adeel Naseer, and other top party officials.

Other candidates that have filed their candidacy forms included Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM)’s candidate, former president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayyoom and The Democrats’ candidate Ilyas Labeeb.

EC rejected Yameen’s form, citing due to his 11-year prison sentence for money laundering and bribery.

He contested the decision with the Supreme Court, which ruled on Sunday morning that the EC was right to declare the opposition leader ineligible to contest the election.

Candidates who have announced their intention to contest the election but have yet to file their forms include Jumhoory Party (JP)’s leader Qasim Ibrahim, Maldives Reform Movement (MRM)’s leader Ahmed Faris Maumoon who is contesting independently and former Home Minister Umar Naseer who is also contesting independently.

The deadline to submit the candidacy form is set to expire at 2:00pm on Monday afternoon.