Death threats have been made against Male' Mayor Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, accusing the Progressive Party of Maldives' (PPM) vice president of seeking the main opposition party's presidential ticket.
The death threat was sent anonymously from a foreign number to Muizzu's wife's phone, a close associate informed Adhadhu. Muizzu has since reported the threat to the police.
The threat followed words of disapproval directed at Muizzu from within the party, the source said but did not allege that the death threat came from inside the PPM.
The message with the death threat accused Muizzu of trying to change the PPM presidential candidate and former President Abdulla Yameen's decision to appoint former Vice President Dr. Mohamed Jameel Ahmed as his running mate. The message warned Muizzu to cease the alleged efforts.
"Dr. Jameel is the PPM-PNC candidate, will be the candidate in plans B and C, and that's [President Yameen's] decision," reads the purported message sent to Muizzu's wife.
In a statement condemning the death threat to Muizzu, the PPM said the people behind the message were under the mistaken impression that the PPM leadership could be divided through such "cowardly and uncivilized" acts.
"...this coalition's leadership and senate will work as one with disregard to such intimidation and threats in order to free this coalition's presidential candidate and leader, PPM's president, President Abdulla Yameen from the government's tyranny, and win the upcoming election for him," the PPM statement read.
On July 26, Muizzu responded to accusations from within the PPM about seeking the presidential ticket. Addressing the opposition coalition's members through Channel 13, Muizzu spoke for about half an hour about and offered evidence for the extent of his support for President Abdulla Yameen as the presidential candidate.
Appearing ill at ease, Muizzu recounted almost the entire history of his relationship with the PPM leader and former president. Before separately listing various interactions that showed his loyalty to Yameen and the PPM, Muizzu said he accepted that there was concern and disquiet among some members due to the allegations made against him.
