MDP Appoints Fayyaz Ismail to Lead Bylaws and Governance Reform Committee

The Maldives Democratic Party (MDP) has appointed former chairperson Fayyaz Ismail to head a 10-member committee tasked with finalising the party’s bylaws and governance reform roadmap.

The opposition party announced on Wednesday that the committee was established by former president and current MDP chairperson Mohamed Nasheed to oversee the completion of the roadmap, which is aimed at reforming the party’s internal governance and constitutional framework.

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According to the MDP, the party headquarters completed a draft of the proposed constitutional amendments and governance reform roadmap on 2 May 2024. The newly appointed committee will review and finalise the document before it is presented to the party.

މަގު ޗާޓު ކޮމިޓީ އެކުލަވާލުންhttps://t.co/SDY3IexmWu— MDP Secretariat (@MDPSecretariat) July 8, 2026

Led by Fayyaz, the committee includes nine other prominent party figures:

1. Mariya Ahmed Didi – Former Minister of Defence
2. Imthiyaz Fahmy – Former MP for Maafannu North
3. Abdulla Sodiq – Member of Parliament for Hithadhoo North
4. Mauroof Ahmed – MDP Legal Director
5. Ibrahim Waheed – MDP Deputy Administrative Chairperson
6. Mohamed Rasheed Hussain – Former Leader of the MDP Parliamentary Group
7. Ahmed Abdulla – MDP Deputy Financial Chairperson
8. Mahfooz Saeed – Lawyer and former MDP Legal Director
9. Yasir Abdul Latheef – Former MP for Kulhudhuffushi North

The initiative to develop a governance reform roadmap was first endorsed by the MDP on 11 June 2024, following the party’s defeats in the 2023 presidential election and the 2024 parliamentary elections. The objective was to strengthen the party’s institutional framework and improve its internal governance.

The reform process began during Fayyaz’s tenure as MDP chairperson before he resigned from the position in November last year.

Speaking when the initiative was first launched, Fayyaz said changes in the country’s political landscape required corresponding reforms within the party. He said institutionalising the MDP as a structured political organisation was essential for strengthening democracy in the Maldives.

He also said the roadmap would define the party’s philosophy, ideology and long-term vision while providing a framework for developing future leaders. According to Fayyaz, the reforms are intended to strengthen the party’s policy foundations, clarify its core principles and broaden engagement with supporters.

He previously stated that the roadmap would be developed through consultations with members of the party’s National Council and that updates on the process would be shared with party members and the public.

The announcement comes days after Nasheed said the MDP was preparing to convene its party congress in September.

The MDP has recorded improved electoral performances in recent months after setbacks in the 2023 presidential and 2024 parliamentary elections. The party secured a number of key seats in this year’s local council elections and also backed the position that prevailed in the recent referendum on synchronising the country’s two main national elections.