The People's National Congress (PNC) presidential candidate Male' Mayor Dr. Mohamed Muizzu on Monday morning submitted candidacy papers despite objection from jailed opposition leader former President Abdulla Yameen.
Yameen requested his Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) which is in a coalition with PNC to boycott the September 9 election, but 67 senators voted to contest in the election while 45 voted to boycott.
Following the vote, Yameen repeated his request to boycott the elections. But on Monday morning, Muizzu submitted his candidacy papers with the backing of the PPM-PNC coalition leaders.
PNC President Abdul Raheem Abdulla and PPM Secretary General Mohamed Tholal accompanied Muizzu during the submission of candidacy papers.
Muizzu was elected as the PNC candidate last Thursday and MP Hussain Mohamed Latheef was nominated as his running mate.
Yameen asked the PNC to nominate a backup candidate in the event that he is unable to contest.
The Elections Commission (EC) rejected his candidacy due to his bribery conviction and prison sentence.
Yameen challenged the decision at the Supreme Court. On Sunday, the top court upheld the EC decision and ruled that Yameen is ineligible to contest.
Officials from the PPM have said that plan A is fielding Yameen as a candidate. But if his candidacy rejection is upheld, they will opt for Plan B and field a PPM candidate.
However, the plans changed after Yameen requested PPM to boycott the election following the Supreme Court judgment.
