Mayor of Male' City Council, Mohamed Muizzu has secured the PNC presidential ticket.

PNC Senate moved to field a candidate from the party in the event that Former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayyoom, the presidential candidate of the Progressive Coalition comprising of PPM and PNC is unable to contest, at the election. After passing to field a candidate, the party opened the opportunity for a primary today.

Muizzu and PNC's PG leader Adam Shareef had contended for the PNC presidential ticket. Muizzu, who is the Vice President of PPM, contested for the ticket after quitting the party and joining the PNC.

A Senate meeting was held at the party office today to decide who would be given the ticket and a secret ballot was held.

The vote was also attended by 48 members of the PNC Senate. Muizzu won the ticket by securing 25 votes. Adam Shareef got only 23 votes.

With the deadline for filing nominations for the upcoming presidential elections ending on August 7, the issue over Yameen's ability to contest the elections is pending in the Supreme Court.

This comes after the Election Commission rejected Yameen's candidacy form on the grounds that he was serving an 11-year prison term in the V. Atoll Aarah case and was not eligible to contest the presidential election.

The supreme court has now asked the Election Commission to take cognisance of the matter and file a written reply.