PNC establishes separate office to “run” the party

Ruling People’s National Congress (PNC) has established a separate office to undertake efforts to secure 10,000 members for the party.

Until now, the party had been run under the same leadership as coalition partner, Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM).

PNC’s Treasurer Ibrahim Naaif told Sun on Tuesday that the party is presently using the party centre established for the presidential campaign in Carnival area, ‘Dhiveheenge Jagaha’, as the party’s office.

Work undertaken at the office pertains to securing 10,000 members for the party. Naaif did not disclose why PNC established a separate office.

“Prior to this, PNC had not been an actively run party,” he added.

Newly sworn-in President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, who won the election on PNC’s ticket, became the party’s leader following his election. He has appealed to members of the party to secure 10,000 members. Therefore, PNC’s priority at present is to reach the goal.

PNC was a party established as PPM’s leader, former president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayyoom feared losing control of PPM amid disagreements between his brother and founder of the party, former president Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom.

Muizzu contested the presidential election on PNC’s ticket after Supreme Court’s seven justices, unanimously ruled he was in ineligible to contest the election in light of his prison conviction. It was the PPM-PNC leadership that had decided to produce a candidate from PNC.