Umar Naseer, prominent leader of the Z Faction of the main opposition Divehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP), has stated today that he is interested in contesting at the primary of the new political party about to be formed by former President Maumoon Abdul Qayyoom.
Speaking to Sun over the phone, Umar said that he would make a final decision after the completion of a Master’s Degree in Business Administration program that he is currently undertaking at Singapore.
Umar said that he had tirelessly worked for a primary while still he was active as a member of DRP and that a presidential candidate should necessarily be nominated upon a primary. He further said that Maumoon’s new party would probably hold primary 6 months before the presidential election, and by then his study program would be complete.
Umar was the most outspoken opponent of Ahmed Tasmin Ali, the Leader of DRP, and he was one of the most active participants of the DRP’s break-away Z Faction, which condemned and criticized the administrative and political policies and methodology of Tasmin, and has then rallied behind DRP’s founder and former President Maumoon. It is the Z Faction under the leadership of Maumoon that has finally, after months of quarrel with DRP’s main leadership, decided to completely severe itself from DRP and re-form as a separate political party.
Umar had initially rejected the view of fellow Z Faction activists to form a new political party. However, he said today that he had a different opinion due to a problem and that the problem had since been eliminated. He affirmed his full support for the new party. “I was skeptical of financial factors. But now we have found ways to finance our activities”, said Umar.
In addition to Umar, Abdullah Yamin, brother of Maumoon and cabinet member during Maumoon’s presidency has also expressed his desire to contest in the primary of the prospective party. Yamin also stated that a presidential candidate for the party should be finalized upon a primary.