Shadow of Factional Rift Looms Over MDP’s Victory Celebration

MV+ News Desk | April 7, 2026
Reserved seats for Mohamed Nasheed are seen at the Maldivian Democratic Party’s victory rally at Artificial Beach last night.

A victory celebration held by the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) following its success in Saturday’s elections has been overshadowed by renewed signs of internal discord.

Tensions surfaced after former President Mohamed Nasheed and former party chairperson Fayyaz Ismail were reportedly not given the opportunity to address supporters at a rally held at Artificial Beach on Sunday night.

The event, intended to celebrate electoral gains, instead drew criticism from sections of the party, with some supporters boycotting the gathering and others voicing frustration during proceedings.

Dispute Over Recognition

In the aftermath of the election results, differing factions within the MDP began attributing credit for the party’s success. Supporters of Nasheed argued that his role was decisive, while others maintained the victory was the result of a collective effort by party leadership.

During the campaign, senior figures operated in separate teams. Nasheed and former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih traveled independently across islands with their respective groups, although both appeared together during a victory march in Malé following the polls.

Long-Running Rift

The internal divide within the MDP dates back to the early period of Solih’s presidency and widened significantly after Nasheed’s defeat in the party’s 2023 presidential primary. Following that loss, Nasheed’s supporters broke away to form The Democrats, which fielded its own candidate in the presidential election but failed to gain significant traction.

The MDP has previously accused The Democrats of contributing to its loss of government. In recent months, however, several members of the breakaway group, including Nasheed, have rejoined the MDP.

Despite a relatively unified front during the local council campaign, divisions re-emerged during the Malé mayoral primary. Nasheed-backed candidate Ali Azim was defeated by incumbent mayor Adam Azim, who went on to secure re-election in Saturday’s vote.

Rally Controversy

Speakers at Sunday’s rally included newly elected mayors, party president Abdulla Shahid, and acting chairperson Abdul Gafoor Moosa. Although Solih attended, he did not address the crowd.

A seat had reportedly been reserved for Nasheed but was removed after it became clear he would not attend.

Most speakers emphasised the need for unity ahead of future elections, particularly the 2028 presidential contest. Shahid stated that the party’s symbol represented equality, justice and decentralisation, urging members to work together to achieve shared goals.

Conflicting Accounts

Responding to criticism, Gafoor stated on social media that the speaking agenda had been pre-set and included only specific officeholders. He later said both Nasheed and Fayyaz had requested speaking slots and that efforts were being made to accommodate them when “unfortunate rumours” disrupted the event.

However, this account was challenged by some party members, including former managing director of Road Development Corporation (RDC) Moosa Ali Manik, who publicly disputed Gafoor’s version of events.

Nasheed, in a post from an unofficial account, described the evening as having turned from “a happy night” into “a very sad” one.

Calls for Unity — and Accountability

The incident has prompted wider debate among party supporters, with some arguing that senior figures should have been given an opportunity to address the rally. Others have called for accountability within the party leadership over the handling of the event.

Despite the controversy, several leaders reiterated that unity would be essential if the MDP is to build on its recent electoral success and mount a strong challenge in future national elections.

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