Abdul Ghafoor Moosa appointed interim Chairman of MDP with support from 65 assembly members

The Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has appointed Hanimaadhoo MP Abdul Ghafoor Moosa (Gapo) as its interim chairman.  

The decision was made during a meeting of the party’s National Assembly, with 65 members voting in support of Gapo’s appointment.  

The post became vacant following the resignation of Fayyaz Ismail, who stepped down last month citing internal unrest and the need to give party leaders space to make decisions.  

Fayyaz Ismail, who took over as MDP Chairman on May 23, 2022, announced his resignation during the party’s National Assembly session on November 23.  

The MDP decided that the responsibilities of the post would be temporarily handed over to a member appointed by the National Assembly until a new chairman is elected. A meeting on the matter was held on November 28.  

It was rumored that the faction aligned with former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih wanted to nominate former Parliament Speaker Mohamed Aslam. However, the party’s legal team advised that only members of the National Assembly holding elected positions could contest. The vote instead went to former Dhidhdhoo MP Abdulla Waheed, nominated by the faction of former President Mohamed Nasheed.  

Waheed required 48 votes to secure the post. The result was disputed, the meeting grew heated, and was eventually adjourned.  

Later, MDP Vice-Chairman Ibrahim Waheed (Iburey) submitted a report to party president Abdulla Shahid, stating that Waheed had received 48 votes and was elected interim chairman. Waheed, however, resigned last Tuesday.  

In a message to the MDP National Assembly WhatsApp group last Wednesday, Fayyaz tagged Iburey and asked when the next meeting would be held to elect the interim chairman. He urged that the meeting be convened quickly and added: “I have my support for MP Ghafoor.”  

Fayyaz’s resignation letter had earlier stated that one of his reasons for stepping down was the unrest among party members due to internal differences. Referring to Solih and Shahid, he said he wanted to end the perception that he was an obstacle to the advisor and party president in managing party affairs.  

As before the last presidential election, the MDP has once again split into factions aligned with Solih and Nasheed.