Members begin ‘fundraising’ after Gapo claims no budget for MDP chairpersonship vote

Some members of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) have begun raising funds, after interim chairperson Abdul Ghafoor Moosa proposed postponing the chairpersonship election, citing lack of funds.

Former MP Alhan Fahmy, who had previously announced plans to contest for chairpersonship, decided on Friday to bow out of the race, citing “lack of confidence in a free and fair election.” This leaves former President Mohamed Nasheed and incumbent South Galolhu MP Meekail Ahmed Naseem in the running for MDP’s top post.

But on Friday night, Ghafoor sent a message to the MDP’s National Council’s WhatsApp group, saying that holding the chairpersonship election right now would result in loss of the party’s internal unity, which would hinder efforts to hold the government accountable.

Ghafoor said that the party has yet to receive the state funding it is entitled to this year. He said that the party does not have any funds to hold an election or even run normal operations, and suggested postponing the chairpersonship election until after the party’s primary for the 2028 presidential elections.

Top figures within the MDP are also preparing for the presidential primary. The party’s former chairperson Fayyaz Ismail has announced he is competing for the party’s ticket with the backing of Nasheed, while former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has also expressed interest in a second shot at office.

The claim of lack of funds to hold the election drew criticism from Ibrahim Ismail (Ibra), a founding member who also served as the party’s president.

In a post on Facebook on early Saturday, Ibra wrote that while he is no longer a member of the MDP, he will always wish well for the party.

Ibra said that the MDP was founded in face of major challenges. He pointed out that it wasn’t state funding that helped the party overcome those challenges.

“If the MDP cannot elect someone to run the party because it doesn’t have the money for an election or hasn’t received money from the state, then the party is already buried,” he wrote.

Ibra said that even MDP’s branches can raise funds if tasked.

He also expressed incredulity that Ghafoor claimed the party did not have any funds to hold the chairpersonship election, but suggested holding a presidential primary.

“Back when political parties were banned, we ran the party by electing a committee via the internet, via email, and holding the committee meetings in secrecy,” he wrote.

Some MPD members have begun transferring money to MDP’s bank account, and have been encouraging others to donate as well.

Meekail has stated he is opposed to postponing the election, while Nasheed has stated that he was ready to take charge as interim chairperson, if the party’s national council approves.

MDP has been the biggest political party in the Maldives before its defeat in the 2023 presidential election. The 2024 audit, the latest to be publicized by the party, shows the party received MVR 17.7 million in funds. This included MVR 15.1 million in state funding and another MVR 2.27 million in donations.

MDP had received MVR 8.45 million in state funding last year.

The Elections Commission (EC)’s political party membership registry shows the MDP had 43,784 members at the start of this year. However, both Nasheed and Fayyaz have said that the party has been a huge increase in new members ahead of the chairpersonship election.