MP Ahmed Nihan, the ruling party’s parliamentary group leader, has responded to the opposition’s criticism of the party’s decision to handover their ticket for the presidential elections without a preimary vote.

In a post on his official Twitter account, MP Nihan – a staunch supporter of the current administration – defended the Progressive Party of Maldives’ decision to handover the ticket to incumbent President Abdulla Yameen.

“The MUO has no say in who the PPM should name its presidential candidate, best they engrave the name of their candidate on smooth tin, without challenging it” Nihan said in the post, typed out in Dhivehi.

The Progressive Party of Maldives, which has been split into two factions since 2016, allows the party ticket to be handed over without primary polls if no members express interest in competing in the polls or through a decision of the party’s congress.