Waheed steps aside after disputed MDP vote ends without interim chair

Mohamed Waheed, president of the MDP’s Dhidhdhoo constituency, has withdrawn his nomination for the vacant post of interim chairperson after the party’s meeting on Friday ended without a decision.

The meeting was held following the sudden resignation of former chairperson Fayyaz Ismail. Three names had been identified for nomination:

However, during Friday’s meeting, only Waheed’s name was formally proposed. The meeting later concluded without an appointment being made.

According to results later compiled by the MDP, Waheed received 48 votes. His election has not been formally announced due to concerns raised over the vote-counting process.

Waheed subsequently withdrew his candidacy in a letter addressed to party president Abdulla Shahid and party advisor, former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.

In his letter, Waheed said he agreed to contest after being requested by a member of the parliamentary group.

“I was elected with the support of the majority of the National Assembly. However, the party president, party advisor and the parliamentary group members who supported and encouraged me have no doubt that obstacles may arise,” he wrote.

Waheed said he had decided to step aside despite winning the vote, stating that:

“I ask the party president and advisor to act to prevent such incidents in the future. They should also work to maintain unity within the party,” he wrote.

Ninety-six members were eligible to vote in Friday’s meeting, with 47 abstaining. Solih and Shahid were among those who did not vote.

In a separate letter to Shahid, the party’s deputy chairperson Ibrahim Waheed, who presided over the meeting, requested that a “political solution” be found to address the unrest surrounding the interim chairperson election.