Opposition running mate on a two-day tour to AA atoll

Opposition presidential candidate's running mate Faisal Naseem has departed on a two-day trip to Alif Alif atoll, as part of their campaign for the 2018 presidential elections.

While he departed on the eight-island tour on Thursday morning, the campaign team's first stop was Himandhoo island.

Afterwards he will travel to Maalhos, Feridhoo and Mathiveri islands, and a special gathering is to be held in Mathiveri island on Thursday night.

Naseem and team will then travel to Bodu Folhudhoo island on Friday, followed by Ukulhas, Rasdhoo and Thoddoo islands. Naseem will inaugurate the opposition's campaign office in Thoddoo on Friday evening, with a gathering planned there for later in the night.

The opposition's running mate is accompanied by Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP)'s chairperson Hassan Latheef and other senior officials, Thoddoo constituency MP Ibrahim Hassan, Ihavandhoo constituency MP Mohamed 'Muhamma' Abdulla, as well as council members of Jumhooree Party.

While the four parties in the joint opposition have agreed to field a common candidate for September's ballots, they have chosen MDP's Ibrahim Mohamed Solih as a candidate, with JP's Naseem as his running mate.

While the opposition aims to travel to every inhabited island in the country prior to the polls, they have split up to ensure this.