Alliance candidate need not be from MDP- Umar

Umar Naseer, President of Islamic Democratic Party (IDP) as well as the party’s presidential candidate has said that the candidate to represent the national Unity Alliance (NUA) does not necessarily have to be from the Alliance. Referring to statements from some MDP officials that the candidate to represent the Alliance has to be MDP Candidate Umar said that the alliance candidate does not necessarily have to be Mohamed Nasheed (Anni) or Dr. Hassan Saeed. He further said if the Alliance agrees on a candidate out side the Alliance who has the capacity to defeat the President Gayoom in the forthcoming presidential elections then all the parties and organizations forming the alliance will have to accept it.

“The Alliance candidate does not have to be Anni or Dr. Hassan or even me, if the Alliance agrees on a candidate outside the Alliance who has the capacity and capability to defeat President Gayoom then it has to be accepted. Isn’t that democracy” said Umar. In addition Umar said that it should not be the intention of the Alliance to seek the support for candidate of a specific party but the Allaince should be concentrating on electing a capable and a strong candidate who has the capacity to defeat President Gayoom. He further said even MDP should not entertain that concept and that the Alliance has no obligation to agree on MDP candidate.