Rozaina backs Nasheed, says MDP can't succeed without him

Former Member of Parliament and President of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) Women’s Wing, Rozaina Adam, has endorsed former President Mohamed Nasheed in the party’s chairperson election, stating that the MDP cannot achieve electoral success without him.

Rozaina announced her support during the inauguration of Nasheed’s campaign office in Maradhoo-Feydhoo, Addu City, on Tuesday night.

The event marked her first public appearance in support of a candidate in the chairperson race. Until now, she had not publicly disclosed which candidate she was backing.

Videos of Rozaina’s remarks at the gathering have since circulated on social media.

Addressing supporters, Rozaina said the MDP had failed to secure victory in both the presidential and parliamentary elections after Nasheed left the party. She contrasted those results with the party’s performance in the recent local council elections, where Nasheed was once again aligned with the MDP.

“We saw what happened in the presidential election when we contested separately from President Nasheed. We saw what happened in the parliamentary election when we contested separately from President Nasheed. But look at what we achieved in the council elections when we contested together,” she said.

Rozaina served as the MDP member for the Addu Meedhoo constituency in the 19th Parliament and was among the party figures who publicly criticised Nasheed during the internal divisions that preceded the 2023 presidential election.

Following his defeat to then-President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih in the MDP presidential primary in February 2023, Nasheed left the party and later formed The Democrats.

During that primary contest, Rozaina supported Solih. In the current chairperson election, Solih is backing Galolhu South MP Meekail Ahmed Naseem, who is contesting against Nasheed.

Rozaina said Nasheed’s role within the party remains important as the MDP prepares for the 2028 presidential election.

“It is a reality that President Nasheed brings energy and momentum to this party. We must head into the 2028 election with that same spirit,” she said.

She described the chairperson election as an opportunity to rebuild the party and encourage former members to return.

Rozaina also expressed confidence that Nasheed’s election as chairperson would help reunite members who had distanced themselves from the MDP and strengthen cooperation among different factions within the party.

The MDP chairperson election is scheduled to take place later this month, with Nasheed and Meekail competing for the post.