Deputy leader of the ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) has said that they will use 'all state workers and resources' to ensure victory at the 2018 presidential elections.

Abdul Raheem Abdulla said this while speaking at the opening ceremony of a party campaign office in capital Malé City on Tuesday night, responding to the opposition's concern over PPM's continued abusive use of state facilities in their campaign for the upcoming polls.

Raheem, who is also the parliamentarian for Fonadhoo constituency, said that 'a governing party will use state employees and resources when seeking re-election' and that the opposition parties 'have no idea how a multi-party democracy works'.

He made the same statement during a press conference earlier on Tuesday evening, adding that those employed at state offices and institutions 'were appointed by PPM'.

The opposition called on the Elections Commission and Anti-Corruption Commission to investigate Raheem's admission to using state resources in PPM's campaign. Both are yet to announce any investigations into the matter.

A number of government employees have expressed concern over being pressured into taking part in PPM events, signing to the party and to even follow some procedures when re-registering to vote.

While over 70,000 of the 263,000 eligible voters have to re-register to vote in September's election, Raheem stressed that PPM will re-register 56,000 of them.