Former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom's new party, the People's National Front (PNF), has decided to apply to the Election Commission for registration.

A delegation involved in the formation of the party visited the Election Commission this morning and held a meeting with the members of the Election Commission.

Speaking to reporters outside the Election Commission after the meeting, former Technology Minister Mohammed Maleeh Jamal, who is in charge of forming the new party, said he was assured of the EC’s cooperation in forming the new party.

Maleeh said President Yameen wanted eight people to be the founders of the party. However, according to the EC rules, only one founder can be registered as the party's founder, he said. Hence, his son Zain Yameen will be registered as the founder of the party,

In addition to Zain, President Yameen wanted to keep Maleeh as the founders of the new party along with Mohammed Jameel Ahmed, Dr. Abdullah Jihad and former CP Hussain Waheed.

Maleeh said he could not submit the form today because he did not have criminal records. If he receives the forms today, he will submit them to the EC today. He said he would break the record of forming a party.

Speaking further, Maleeh said that President Yameen's party has been stolen from him. He said PNC Chairman Abdul Raheem Abdullah was behind it.