Maldives Presidential polls: Opposition leader Ibrahim Mohamed Solih claims victory

The opposition leader had fought a bitter election campaign against country's President Abdulla Yameen.

"Provisional results have declared the victor of the 2018 Maldives presidential poll as opposition candidate Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, popularly known as Ibu, with a lead of around 16 percent," reported Maldives Independent.

National Chapter of Transparency International (TI) in Maldives tweeted: "Our quick count results indicate that Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has won the 2018 Presidential Election by a decisive margin. We call on all stakeholders to maintain an environment conducive for a peaceful transfer of power.
#MVElection2018."

Polling was held in the island nation on Sunday.

While polling commenced at 8 am, it continued till 19:00 hours, three hours more than the expected time.

Speaking on the details of the polls, Maldives Independent reported: " There were about 262,000 eligible voters and 472 ballot boxes, including five in four overseas locations."

After clinching victory in the polls, Ibrahim Mohamed Solih said it was a moment of happiness and hope.

"This is a moment of happiness, a moment of hope. a moment of history. For many of us this has been a difficult journey, a journey that has led to prison cells or exile," the leader was quoted as saying by Maldives Independent.

“It’s been a journey that has ended at the ballot box. I must thank all those people who have struggled for this cause," he said.

Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has meanwhile urged incumbent Abdullah Yameen, whose term was tainted by a crackdown on political opponents, courts and the media, to hand over power peacefully and release political prisoners.

"I call on Yameen to respect the will of the people and bring about a peaceful, smooth transfer of power," Solih said on national television after his victory.

There were fears that the polls would be heavily rigged since Maldives was reeling under a political crisis with the regime of President Abdulla Yameen in Feb this year arresting two Supreme Court judges including the Chief Justice, after declaring a 15-day state of emergency. He had also got arrested political rivals.

Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom representing Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) is half-brother of former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom who had ruled the Islamic island nation from 1978 to 2008 uninterruptedly.

Gayoom was defeated in the October 2008 presidential election but in September 2011, he returned as the leader of the newly formed Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM).

Yameen was elected as President in 2013, defeating Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) leader and former president Mohamed Nasheed in the 2013 elections.

In 2016, Nasheed was given asylum in the United Kingdom after he was convicted under the Anti-Terrorism Act of Maldives though international rights group like Amnesty International has described the conviction as "politically motivated".

Politicians congratulate:

Former Vice President of the country Mohamed Jameel Ahmed tweeted: "Heartfelt congratulations to Prez-Elect @ibusolih & VP-Elect @FaisalNasym. Immense gratitude to the people of #Maldives for standing up against tyranny, injustice & corruption. Together we'll steer our beloved nation back to the path of democracy, human rights & rule of law."

Ex-Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed posted:  "Congratulations to President Elect @ibusolih. You have done an extremely good service to not only to the people of Maldives, but also to freedom loving people everywhere. Democracy is a historical inevitability."

US congratulates:

The United States has congratulated the country for hosting a peaceful presidential election.

US Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs  said in a statement: "The United States congratulates the people of Maldives, who peacefully raised their democratic voices to determine the future of their country. Although the Election Commission has not yet announced the final tally, we note Maldives’ media and NGO reports that the Joint Opposition candidate has secured a victory following a peaceful day of polling. We urge calm and respect for the will of the people as the election process concludes." 

Image:   Ibrahim Mohamed Solih Twitter page