Seven candidates have filed papers to contest for the position of Umno president, while another three are gunning for the position of deputy president.

This was announced by the Umno election secretariat this evening at the party headquarters in Kuala Lumpur. 

However, the names of the qualified candidates will only be announced tomorrow as they need to be vetted, which includes checks with the Insolvency Department to see if they are bankrupt. 

Umno executive secretary Ab Rauf Yusoh, who held the press conference, only confirmed the names of acting president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, veteran Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah and Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin as among the seven to contest.

It is the highest number of candidates to fight for the top post in Umno's history, he added.

The party received three nominations for the deputy president post and nine nominations for the three vice-president positions.

A total of 121 candidates will contest for the 25 posts in the supreme council, said Rauf.

He also noted that 612 members and leaders have registered for the party polls.

As for the Youth wing, nine candidates have set their eyes to succeed Khairy, while nine others are vying for the three vice-chief posts.

Meanwhile, a total of 207 have registered to contest for the 20 exco member positions in the Youth wing.

The party also received four nominations for the Wanita chief post and Puteri post respectively.

Umno secretary-general Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor will announce the candidates' list tomorrow evening.

The party will choose its new leadership on June 30 while the wings will hold its elections on June 23.