Three candidates contest MDP chairpersonship

The Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has announced the names of three candidates who qualify to contest the race for chairpersonship of the country’s main opposition party.

The seat of the chairperson of MDP got vacated on November 23 last year, after Fayyaz Ismail resigned from the role. He resigned after declaring that “three swords cannot fit into one sheath” and calling for internal unity.

Hanimaadhoo MP Abdul Ghafoor Moosa (Gapo) has been serving as interim chairperson since he was elected to the role by the party’s national council on December 8.

The MDP is scheduled to hold polls to elect an official chairperson on June 12.

In a statement on Sunday, the party announced the names and the candidate numbers for the applicants who qualify to contest the election.

They are:

• Candidate number 1: Mohamed Nasheed (Anni), G. Kenereege, K. Male’
• Candidate number 2: Ibrahim Mohamed (Waadu), Hulhuvillage, L. Fonadhoo
• Candidate number 3: Meekail Ahmed Naseem, G. Barosa, K. Male’

The top contenders appear to be Nasheed and Meekail. The former Maldivian leader has allied with former party chairperson Fayyaz Ismail to campaign under the slogan ‘Bodu Badhalu’ or ‘Big Change,’ while Meekail is running for chair with the backing of the MDP’s parliamentary group under the slogan ‘Ithubaaru’ or ‘Trust.’