President Abdulla Yameen’s running mate for the 2018 presidential elections, Dr. Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed has decided not to leave his post at the Islamic University of Maldives.

The former Islamic minister was appointed as the university’s Chancellor in August 2016.

Ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM), last Saturday, announced that President Yameen had selected Shaheem as his running mate for the election. The party’s deputy had later said that he will be resigning from his post at IUM following the President’s decision.

However, at a PPM press conference on Monday, Dr. Shaheem revealed that he will be staying on as the university’s Chancellor, adding that the decision was made after discussions with the President.

Shaheem claimed that it is important for him to remain at the university, noting that President Yameen “needs” him to stay and continue with its development “even after elections”. He emphasized that the Islamic University is “an important initiative” of the incumbent president.

He also stated that President Yameen intended to appoint a vice chancellor and added that his own role would be an advisory one during the elections, so as to not hinder the campaign.

Around the same time as his announcement, the President’s Office announced the appointment of Aishath Khaleela Abdul Sattar as vice chancellor of the Islamic University of Maldives.