Kaashidhoo MP Faisal Naseem vows to defeat President Abdulla Yameen by a huge margin if elected as the opposition running mate.

While the opposition coalition parties have agreed to back an MDP member as their candidate and a JP member as their running mate, MDP has elected Ibrahim Mohamed Solih as their candidate while JP is set to elect a running mate in a secret vote on Friday night.

There are currently four JP members vying for the position. They are MP Faisal, party deputy leader Dr. Hussain Rasheed, former minister at the President’s Office Abdulla Ameen, and Kendhoo MP Ali Hussain.

Faisal said that, considering the current situation, he gives his guarantee that he will defeat President Yameen by a huge margin with opposition candidate Solih if he is elected as the running mate, adding that he is also willing to work with whoever is elected by JP and make whatever sacrifices necessary to win September’s election.

Faisal also said that if elected as running mate he would be able to gain many votes from his constituency, Kaashidhoo, as well as Fuvahmulah as a result of the relations he has developed with the people in the region in the past 25 years.

The deadline for applying for candidacy ended at 4pm, Friday, and 41 JP council members are set to take a vote at 9pm.