PNC's president Abdulraheem Abdulla (Adhurey) has stated that opposition will not allow a presidential election without PPM/PNC's leader former president Yameen Abdul Gayoom's name.

PPM/PNC coalition staged a protest on Friday to contest the 11-year prison sentence given to President Yameen over the V. Aarah corruption case.

Speaking outside the PPM office before the protest rally began, Adhurey stated that the number of participants in the rally shows the support that Preisdent Yameen has, adding that his popularity would also be seen crystal clearly to India.

Deeming the 11-year prison sentence on the opoosition leader as 'haram', Adhurey further stressed that the opposition will not allow a presidential election in 2023 without the participation of President Yameen in it.

He further alleged that the current administration is taking a brutalist approach towards President Yameen, after having come to power by selling justice for all.

Highlighting that the administration first jailed President Yameen in 2019 in time for the Parliamentary Election and now has jailed him for a second time in the Presidential Election, Adhurey had alleged that the government is rather afraid of President Yameen,

Adhurey further stated that President Yameen remains the sole opposition leader who had raised his voice against India, after the administration had 'sold' the country's independence to it's closest neighbor. He added that the atrocities being commmitted against President Yameen by the government in cahoots with India would never be forgiven.

While a large number of supporters took part in the protest rally, opposition leaders and senior officials were in the front rows holding banners calling for the release of President Yameen. Supporters who took part in the rally were seen wearing black t-shirts with similar messaging.

Police had granted the opposition to hold the rally today, and had been active at the protest sites to manage traffic.