Former President, Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom, has said that some of the Parliamentary seats were ceded by Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) to Jumhooree Party (JP) to ensure MDP does not win majority.

President Yameen said this in a leaked phone conversation with citizens of Laamu Maavashu in an effort to garner support for former Minister of Economics and current Parliamentary hopeful of PPM for the Maavashu constituency, Mohamed Saeed. Saeedh was also said to be part of this phone conversation.

It is unsure when the leaked conversation took place. However, it is certain that the conversation took place after the decision was taken to retract PPM party tickets from some candidates and support JP in those constituencies.

Former President Maumoon abdul Gayoom-led Maldives Reform Party (MRM) is also putting forward candidates for the Parliamentary elections. President Yameen had said in the phone conversation that if PPM, JP and MRM were to put forward candidates in the same constituency, there is a higher chance for MDP to win the seat. President Yameen then said that this is the reason that PPM has ceded some positions to JP.

He reiterated that there have been various grievances and concerns within PPM due to the choice of pushing support for JP candidates over PPM candidates in some constituencies.

President Yameen said in the audio recording that he had planned on running for the Parliamentary seat in the Maavashu constituency.

He had said that he was unable to contest for that seat due to all the constituencies being filled up by candidates. President Yameen said that he had then handed the seat of Maavashu constituency to Saeed due to this reason.