Candidate numbers for presidential election decided through draw

Elections Commission (EC), on Wednesday, through a draw, decided the candidate numbers of the individuals contesting the September 9^th presidential elections.

The draw was taken during a ceremony held for the purpose at EC’s focal point, Dharubaaruge, on Wednesday evening. The candidate numbers are as follows;

1 – Former Home Minister Umar Naseer (Independent Candidate)

2 – Former Deputy Defense Minister Hassan Zameel (Independent Candidate)

3 – President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih (Maldivian Democratic Party)

4 – Male' City Mayor Dr. Mohamed Muizzu (People’s National Congress)

5 – Qasim Ibrahim (Jumhoory Party)

6 – Ahmed Faris Maumoon (Independent Candidate)

7 – Hulhudhoo MP Ilyas Labeeb (The Democrats)

8 – Colonel (Retired) Mohamed Nazim (Maldives National Party)

The first candidacy that the EC received had been that of PPM’s leader, former president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom.

However, the commission rejected Yameen’s candidacy due to his conviction for money laundering and bribery, citing Article 109 of the Constitution, which disqualifies candidates who have been sentenced to over 12 months in prison for a crime, unless it has been at least three years since they have completed their sentence or have been pardoned.

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

The next candidate to file candidacy was President Solih, who is seeking a second term in office. He has picked North Hithadhoo MP Mohamed Aslam as his running mate.

MNP’s leader Nazim has also filed his candidacy, with Dr. Ahmed Adeel Naseer as his running mate.

Hulhudhoo MP Ilyas Labeeb, the presidential candidate of The Democrats – composed of a breakaway faction of the ruling MDP loyal to its former leader Mohamed Nasheed – was the last to file his candidacy on Sunday. He has picked Hussain Amr, the former managing director of the State Trading Organization (STO), as his running mate.

The rest of the candidates filed their candidacy on Monday.

The first was Muizzu, who picked Faresmaathoda MP Hussain Mohamed Latheef (Sembe) as his running mate.

Next was JP’s leader Qasim, who named the party’s deputy leader Ameen Ibrahim as his running mate.

Three independent candidates followed suit; MRM’s president Faris – whose party is locked in a legal battle with the EC over its decision to dissolve the party for failure to meet membership numbers mandated by law, former home minister Umar, and former deputy defense minister Zameel.

Faris picked Dr. Abdul Sattar Yoosuf as his running mate, Umar picked his longtime friend Ahmed Saleem (Maaz Saleem), and Zaleem picked his wife, Mariyam Aleem.

283,272 people are eligible to vote in the election, slated to take place on September 9.