Former home minister Umar Naseer and former vice president of Local Government Authority Shujau Hussain have withdrawn their bid to run in the presidential election.

In a press release, Umar Naseer said it has been 10 years since he began advocating for the country to return to Islamic principles and working to eliminate drug crime, murder, and corruption and create a peaceful and productive society.

Umar Naseer said that the current political situation does not allow for a leader with clear principles to contest in the election and asked that his supporters forgive him for not running in September’s polls, adding that he will still be active in politics.

Also in a press statement, Shujau said that his work is to bring true democracy to the country and empower the youth and expressed concern over the obstructions he and his allies face in the current political sector.

Shujau said that small dictatorships have been placed in power in the past 10 years and accused Maldivian Democratic Party, Jumhoree Party, Adhaalath Party, and Progressive Party of Maldives of working for their own interests instead of democratic principles.

He added that President Abdulla Yameen has ruined the Constitutional government, which has made it impossible to serve the people.