Shahid heads to Addu for launch of campaign for MDP’s presidential primary

Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP)’s leader Abdulla Shahid has departed for Addu City on Friday evening.

Sources close to Shahid told Sun that the visit marks the official launch of his campaign for the party’s ticket for the upcoming presidential election. Shahid also confirmed his visit to the Maldives’ second-most populous city in a post on the social media platform X last night.

According to his associates, Shahid will officially launch his campaign at a special rally in Hithadhoo tonight, where he is expected to make significant announcements. Additional campaign activities are scheduled to take place in Addu on Saturday.

During his visit, Shahid is expected to meet with senior MDP officials in Addu to seek their support. Since July last year, he has been actively engaging with leaders of various party branches as part of efforts to build support for his candidacy.

Although the presidential election remains more than a year away, competition for the main opposition party’s presidential ticket is intensifying. Media reports, citing senior party sources, indicate that former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has also decided to contest the primary and is currently consulting with party leadership regarding his candidacy.

Former MDP Chairperson Fayyaz Ismail has also officially announced his intention to contest the primary. Fayyaz is reportedly seeking the nomination with the backing of former President and current MDP Chairperson Mohamed Nasheed.

Former Vice President Faisal Naseem has likewise expressed interest in securing the MDP presidential ticket and confirmed that he is actively working towards that objective.

Addu City has historically played a significant role in the MDP’s internal elections. With a population of more than 35,000, Addu is considered a major stronghold of the party. Statistics from the 2023 MDP presidential primary show that, outside Malé, Addu City had the highest number of registered voters.