Former Deputy Minister of Defence Hassan Zameel has submitted his candidacy form to contest the presidential election.
Zameel has appointed his wife, Mariyam Aleem, as his running mate and his son, Ahmed Mahraan, as his election agent. Zameel was the Deputy Minister of Defence during the current administration and has also served as the Director General at the Ministry of Tourism and the Deputy Director at the Ministry of Arts, Culture, and Heritage.
Zameel is the third candidate to submit his form as an independent candidate and the only one to appoint a woman as a running mate. Mariyam Aleem worked at the Ministry of Atolls Development for 21 years and also worked many years at the Prosecutor General's Office (PGO).