The Maldives’ strongman President Yameen Abdul Gayoom has conceded he lost Sunday’s election to his challenger. Gayoom said at a news conference televised live from the capital, Male: “I know I have to step down now,” AP reports. The election commission has released provisional results earlier Monday showing longtime lawmaker Ibrahim Mohamed Solih had won with 58.3 percent of the vote. Solih’s win was unexpected, and opposition party members had feared Yameen would rig the vote in his favor. Since his election in 2013, Yameen has cracked down on political dissent, jailing rivals and Supreme Court justices.