Gayoom requests Umar not to hold rally

President of Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) Maumoon Abdul Gayoom has requested Umar Naseer not to hold the PPM rally scheduled for tonight. This request follows a decision by the party’s council that no individual member should hold rallies after the primary election.

PPM Spokesperson Ahmed Mahloof said that Gayoom had requested Umar not to hold a separate rally, and also notified him that the rally scheduled for tonight was a violation of article 69 of the party’s basic regulation.

“Gayoom requested Umar not to hold tonight’s rally for the sake of the party’s interests. Our council has also decided that individual groups should not hold rallies,” he said.

Umar’s Spokesperson Abdullah Sinaan said that he was not informed of Gayoom requesting Umar not to hold tonight’s rally, and that ‘Umar will hold the rally tonight anyway’. He said that Umar will announce at the rally whether he would remain as a member of PPM or leave the party.

“Even though Umar has accepted defeat, there are several complaints surrounding the election results. Following the result, several of Umar’s supporters have said that they would leave the party. Umar has to answer to them in this regard. This will be revealed tonight,” Sinaan said.

Sinaan said that Umar is not likely to do anything that would compromise the party’s interests at tonight’s rally.