Former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom has asked the opposition PPM to boycott this year's Presidential Elections.

President Yameen's directive came after the Supreme Court ruled that the Election Commission (EC) had correctly decided not to accept Yameen's candidacy form after declaring that he did not meet the criteria to participate in the presidential election.

One Online has learned that Yameen had asked for a boycott of the presidential election in a note given to the party leadership through his lawyers after the hearing at the Supreme Court today. In the note,

Yameen asked for a boycott of the election if the Senate believes that his electoral right has been violated. He also urged his supporters to boycott the elections.

Sources claim that after receiving the note, the party leadership held discussions. A Senate meeting has already begun to discuss the issue.

In the event of Yameen not being able to contest, PNC, which is part of the PPM coalition, has named Male' City Mayor Dr. Mohamed Muizzu as a replacement candidate. However, PPM had said it had not yet decided on Muizzu as its candidate and that it had not yet decided to support him.

In Yameen's candidacy case, the Supreme Court ruled that the EC had decided not to accept his candidacy form properly. The decision was taken as he was serving an 11-year sentence and did not meet the eligibility criteria.