Former President Mohamed Nasheed Secures Victory in MDP Chairperson Election

Former President Mohamed Nasheed has won the election for the chairperson of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), the second-largest political party in the Maldives. Nasheed secured a commanding lead over his opponents in a vote held across the country on June 12, 2026. Provisional results indicate that Nasheed's victory was decisive, with rival candidate Meekail Ahmed Naseem, Member of Parliament for Galolhu North, receiving approximately half the number of votes as the former president. Ibrahim Mohamed was the third candidate contesting the leadership role. Voting took place between 2:30 pm and 9:00 pm. However, the election process faced disruptions in two locations; voting did not occur on the islands of Feeali and Fiyooree due to procedural issues. Following the release of the results, supporters and members of Nasheed's campaign team gathered at the Artificial Beach in Malé to celebrate his projected return to the party's leadership. The election fills a vacancy created by the resignation of the previous chairperson, Fayyaz Ismail. Since Ismail's departure, the role had been managed on an interim basis by Abdul Ghafoor Moosa, the Member of Parliament for Hanimaadhoo. Nasheed's ascent to the chairpersonship marks a significant moment for the MDP as it navigates its internal leadership structure and prepares for future political challenges in the Maldives.