Nasheed swept MDP chairpersonship election with 69% votes

Former President Mohamed Nasheed swept the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP)’s chairpersonship election on Friday with 69 percent of votes, according to preliminary results.

Nasheed made his comeback to the leadership of the main opposition party after beating South Galolhu MP Meekail Ahmed Naseem.

Members registered with the party as of April 22 were eligible to vote in the election.

Nasheed, the party’s first chairperson, sealed his comeback with 20,943 out of 30,363 valid ballots - 69 percent of total votes.

He was particularly dominant in polls in L. Atoll, GDh. Atoll, Th. Atoll and F. Atoll.

• L. Atoll: 86.5 percent
• GDh. Atoll: 83.5 percent
• Th. Atoll: 83.1 percent
• F. Atoll: 79.6 percent
• ADh. Atoll: 79.1 percent
• Fuvahmulah City: 78.9 percent
• Overseas polling stations: 77.1 percent
• M. Atoll: 73.6 percent
• K. Atoll: 71.1 percent
• AA. Atoll: 70.6 percent
• Male’ City: 70.3 percent
• N. Atoll: 69 percent
• Thinadhoo City: 69 percent
• B. Atoll: 68.5 percent
• GA. Atoll: 67.9 percent
• Addu City: 67.2 percent
• Kulhudhuffushi City: 66.1 percent
• R. Atoll: 66.1 percent
• V. Atoll: 65.6 percent
• Sh. Atoll: 64.6 percent
• Dh. Atoll: 57.7 percent
• HA. Atoll: 52 percent
• HDh. Atoll: 51.9 percent
• Lh. Atoll: 43.3 percent

Nasheed’s 70.3 percent sweep of Male’ City included that of Meekail’s own constituency. As such, Nasheed secured 166 votes from South Galolhu to Meekail’s 119.

Nasheed also dominated North Galolhu, with 195 votes compared to Meekail’s 51.

The chairpersonship election followed the resignation of former chairperson Fayyaz Ismail, who backed Nasheed’s campaign. Meanwhile, Meekail ran with the support of former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.

Meekail called Nasheed on Friday night to congratulate him. He also reaffirmed his commitment to keeping the MDP united and strong, so that the party can launch a successful bid for presidency in 2028.