Elections Commission (EC) will hold the draw to determine the order of names for the list of eligible candidates for the presidential elections on Wednesday.

EC stated that the candidate numbers will drawn on Wednesday evening at 1630 at the Election Centre at Dharubaaruge. All the presidential candidates have been requested to attend the ceremony.

If any candidate is to be represented by someone else, the candidate should inform EC in writing, the Commission said. EC added that if a candidate is being represented by someone else, EC will draw their number for them.

This year's election has the most number of candidates contesting for presidency. Prior to this, the most number of candidates contested in an election in 2008, with 8 candidates contesting.

This year, 8 candidates are contesting in the elections - 5 candidates from political parties and 3 independent candidates.

EC has already accepted the candidacy of President Solih, Mohamed Nazim of MNP, Ilyas Labeeb of The Democrats, Faris Maumoon of MRM, and independent candidates Umar Naseer and former Deputy Defence Minister Hassan Zameel.

The Commission is yet to accept the candidacy of JP's Qasim Ibrahim and PNC's Dr. Mohamed Muiz.

Presidential Election's first round of voting will take place on 9 September.