PNC blocks Kandoodhoo Primary, rejects candidate form following calls to step aside

The main ruling People’s National Congress (PNC) has rejected the application form of a candidate seeking to contest for the presidency of the Kandoodhoo Council under the party’s ticket in the upcoming local council elections.

The rejected application belonged to Umar Mahmood Mohamed of Kandoodhoo. Umar provided a detailed account of the incident to RaajjeMV.

According to Umar, after deciding to submit his form to contest in the party’s primary, he was contacted by senior party officials, including a minister from the President’s Office, who requested a meeting. He was subsequently brought to Malé City, where he met with MP for the Kinbidhoo constituency, Ali Ashrag; Minister at the President’s Office, Abdulla Nasir and PNC Parliamentary Group Leader and MP for Inguraidhoo constituency Ibrahim Falah, to discuss the primary.

Umar said that during the meeting, the officials requested that the party ticket be granted to a candidate of their choosing without holding a primary election. Umar stated that he disagreed with this approach, maintaining that he had sufficient public support to win the seat for the party by contesting and securing the ticket through a primary.

Despite this, Umar said the party officials did not accept his position. Instead, they repeatedly urged him not to contest the primary, arguing that holding one would create disunity within the party.

Umar added that he continued to assert that this approach was unfair and reiterated his belief that conducting a primary was the most appropriate course of action.

In relation to the matter, Umar and some of his supporters also met with President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu. During that meeting, the president assured them that the primary election would proceed as planned, regardless of what others might say.

Umar stated that his application was later rejected by PNC and confirmed that this status was visible on the party’s online portal.

In the message sent to Umar by PNC regarding the rejection, it was stated that his form had been reviewed by the party’s Elections Committee. The message further noted that, following the review, the committee determined that Umar did not meet the eligibility criteria to contest in the primary and therefore rejected his application.

Beyond this case, numerous complaints have emerged from individuals who say they have been unfairly denied the opportunity to contest in the ruling party’s primaries.