Vice President Abdulla Jihad has said that he accepts the results of the 2018 presidential elections, as the sitting president continues to protest over alleged vote rigging.

This is the first time President Abdulla Yameen’s deputy has commented on the election where 233,877 of 262,135 eligible voters came out and practiced their right.

Congratulating Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and Faisal Naseem, Jihad said that he accepts the decision made by the Maldivian people on September 23.

When asked for a comment regarding the ruling party’s decision to question the result and protest, the VP said that ‘they should go to the Elections Commission’, adding that ‘it is the Commission that has to be made answerable’.

Yameen received 96,052 votes in the polls, while the Joint Opposition's Solih won with 134,705 votes.

The sitting president had conceded the day after the election, following a meeting with the president-elect.

And as Yameen is seen joining the protests held by the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM), accusing the Elections Commission of electoral fraud, he continues to claim that he accepts the result of the election.

However, he says that he does not believe that he received just 96,000 votes, adding that ‘I believe that is the minimum amount’.