Former President Mohamed Nasheed has secured a decisive victory in the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) chairperson election, marking a major political comeback within the party he helped build.
Nasheed defeated Galolhu South MP Meekail Ahmed Naseem by a wide margin in Saturday’s internal party vote, according to results emerging from ballot boxes counted across the country.
Although the MDP had not officially released provisional results at the time of reporting, Nasheed established an overwhelming lead early in the count, prompting celebrations among supporters and party members.
Following the outcome, Nasheed called on MDP supporters to gather at Artificial Beach to commemorate the victory.
The election attracted significant attention as it pitted one of the Maldives’ most influential political figures against a younger generation candidate. Meekail campaigned on a platform centered around youth leadership and party renewal, while Nasheed entered the race promising what he described as a “major transformation” for the MDP.
A total of 241 ballot boxes were established for the election, including 240 across the Maldives and one in Sri Lanka. The party said 48,912 members were eligible to cast ballots.
The result represents another chapter in Nasheed’s long political journey with the MDP.
After internal disagreements fractured the party ahead of the 2023 presidential election, Nasheed left the MDP and went on to establish The Democrats. However, following months of political realignment, he later rejoined the MDP, setting the stage for his bid for the party’s chairmanship.
Throughout the campaign, Nasheed promoted an initiative branded “Bodu Badhalu” or “The Big Change,” arguing that the MDP required structural reforms and renewed leadership to return to government.
The campaign was launched alongside former Economic Minister Fayyaz Ismail, who is widely viewed as a potential contender for the party’s 2028 presidential ticket.
Both Nasheed and Fayyaz repeatedly stated during the campaign that their objective was to rebuild the party, strengthen its national support base and position the MDP to reclaim power in the next presidential election.
They also proposed broader constitutional and governance reforms, including a model that would separate the roles of Head of State and Head of Government.
Under the concept promoted during the campaign, the Head of Government would continue to be directly elected by the public, differing from many traditional parliamentary systems.
Nasheed has publicly indicated that he supports Fayyaz becoming Head of Government under such a system, while expressing interest in serving as Head of State.
The chairperson election was closely watched both within and outside the party, as many observers viewed it as an early indicator of the MDP’s direction heading into the next electoral cycle.
With Nasheed now assuming one of the party’s most influential positions, attention is expected to shift toward how the MDP restructures itself and prepares for the political contests leading up to 2028.
For the MDP, the result signals a return of one of its founding figures to a central leadership role at a time when the party is seeking to rebuild after its defeat in the 2023 presidential election and subsequent losses in national polls.
