Mariya: Muizzu poses ‘no challenge’

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s campaign spokesperson, Mariya Ahmed Didi says the opposition PPM-PNC coalition’s presidential candidate Dr. Mohamed Muizzu poses “no challenge” to the ruling MDP.

Mariya, who also serves as the country’s defense minister, made the remark at a press conference on Sunday.

She said that Muizzu had been one of former president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom’s closes aides, serving on his cabinet as housing minister.

She said that the Male’ city mayor had been involved in “everything on the agenda between 2013 and 2018.”

“This is what we are saying. We aren’t saying this because we see Muizzu as a challenge,” she said.

Mariya accused Muizzu of distancing himself from the alleged corruption carried out during Yameen’s administration.

“Even if he is contesting on behalf of PNC, I want to remind everyone that Muizzu isn’t anyone new,” she said.

Mariya had previously accused Muizzu of links to Jamiyyath Salaf – an NGO accused of propagating religious extremism – an allegation the group denies.