MALE, May 21 (Xinhua) -- The Maldives Elections Commission on Monday announced that anyone convicted of a criminal offence could not legally contest in a political party's presidential primary, warning that such elections would be annulled, local media reported.

The Elections Commission made the declaration in a notice concerning the presidential election, which will be held in the island country in September.

The commission said only candidates that meet the prerequisites for president as per the Constitution would be allowed to run in primaries and it reminded the parties to abide by the island's Constitution.

Following the announcement, former president Mohamed Nasheed who formally applied to contest in the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party's presidential primary scheduled on May 30, had his candidacy rejected due to the terrorism charges against him.

Nasheed was sentenced to 13 years in jail on terrorism charges over the arbitrary detention of a judge during his regime.