Shameed, Kudoo apologize for approving Ihusan and some other ministers, citing it a ‘mistake'

Two lawmakers from main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP)—South Hulhumale’ MP Dr. Ahmed Shamheed and North Galolhu MP Mohamed Ibrahim (Kudoo)—have issued public apologies, acknowledging that their votes to grant parliamentary approval to several ministers, including Home Minister Ali Ihusaan, were a mistake.

The apologies follow Wednesday’s parliamentary sitting, during which 14 ministers who had recently retaken their oaths of office were granted approval. During the vote, 10 MDP lawmakers voted in favor of granting approval to Home Minister Ihusaan, with just two main opposition party lawmakers—South Galolhu MP Meekail Ahmed Naseem and Vaikaradhoo MP Hussain Ziyadh—voted against it.

The decision by the majority of MDP lawmakers to back the ministers has triggered significant backlash on social media from former MDP lawmakers and other party officials. The criticism is largely driven by the party’s prior vocal opposition to these ministers. Some government officials have characterized the MDP’s votes as an endorsement of the administration’s policies.

Addressing the controversy via a post on X on Thursday, Shamheed stated that supporting Ihusaan and certain other ministers was a “clear misjudgment”. He added that he assumed full responsibility for the decision and offered an apology to the public.

My vote for Ihusaan and a few other ministers yesterday was a clear misjudgment. I take full responsibility and apologize.

— Ahmed Shamheed (@Ashamhyd) April 30, 2026

Similarly, Kudoo wrote on X that he had made a “huge mistake” in voting in favor of Minister Ihusaan. He clarified that the vote should not be interpreted as support for the Minister, but rather as a decision made without fully considering its implications at the time.

"I sincerely apologize for this. I understand that this is difficult [for people] to accept. I assure you that I will act more carefully in the future to ensure such incidents are not repeated," Kudoo stated.

އިއްޔެ އޮތް ވަޒީރުންގެ މަޖިލީހަށް ރުހުން ދިނުމުގެ ވޯޓުގައި ހޯމް މިނިސްޓަރ އަލީ އިހުސާނަށް ވޯޓު ދިނުމުގައި އަޅުގަނޑަށް ވަރަށް ބޮޑު ގޯހެއް ހެދިފައިވާކަން ގަބޫލުކުރަމެވެ. އެއީ އަޅުގަނޑު ތާއީދު ކުރާތީ ދިން ވޯޓެއް ނޫނެވެ. އަދި އެ ވަގުތު އެކަމާ މެދު އެންމެ ފުންކޮށް ނުވިސްނާ…

— MohamedKudu (@mohamedkudu) April 30, 2026

The decision to approve the Home Minister has drawn especially strong criticism, given that the MDP had previously sought his removal through a no-confidence motion. The party had advanced several allegations, including claims of unauthorized use of the DNR database to enroll individuals into the ruling People’s National Congress (PNC). That motion, however, was ultimately voted down by the PNC supermajority.