Nasheed: General MDP membership does not owe me an apology

Former President Mohamed Nasheed has clarified that his recent remark suggesting that others should apologise to him was not directed at the general membership of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP).

Nasheed, who is contesting the party’s chairperson election, made the clarification during a campaign visit to HA. Muraidhoo on Monday.

The issue stems from remarks he made during a campaign event in R. Dhuvaafaru last week. During that meeting, Nasheed apologised to party members for leaving the MDP and campaigning against it during the 2023 presidential election. After offering the apology, he added that “you all must apologise to me too”.

Speaking in Muraidhoo, Nasheed said his comments had been misunderstood after a party member questioned why MDP members should apologise to him.

“General members do not need to apologise to me. An entire community of general members never has to apologise to a single individual. That is not the context in which I said those words that day,” Nasheed said.

He stressed that neither individual members nor the wider party membership owed him an apology.

Nasheed said the achievements of the MDP belong to its members and described the party as an organisation built around its membership base.

“This is a party of the general members,” he said, adding that the party’s structure allows it to function from the grassroots level upward.

He also reflected on his decision to leave the MDP, describing it as a mistake.

Nasheed said his campaign tour across the country was not solely aimed at securing votes in the chairperson election but also at meeting members directly and seeking their forgiveness.

“I am travelling to the islands not only to gain votes but also to stand before members and ask for their forgiveness,” he said.

Nasheed left the MDP ahead of the 2023 presidential election following a dispute with then-President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and later formed The Democrats.

After spending two years in Ghana working with the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF), he rejoined the MDP in June last year.

The upcoming chairperson election has become a contest between two factions within the party. Nasheed is backed by former MDP Chairperson Fayyaz Ismail and his supporters, while South Galolhu MP Meekail Ahmed Naseem is supported by members aligned with former President Solih.

Although MDP President Abdulla Shahid is associated with the Solih faction, he has publicly stated that he will remain neutral in the election and will not endorse any candidate.