The opposition says it is working to allow Former President Mohamed Nasheed and Jumhoree Party (JP) leader Qasim Ibrahim to run in the 2018 presidential election.

Hassan Latheef, the Chairperson of Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), said they wish to establish an environment where anyone who wishes to run in the election can do so.

In a news conference held at Marble Hotel on Sunday, Latheef said the party’s goal is to do whatever it takes to beat President Abdulla Yameen in the election, and that fielding a single opposition candidate is the most viable option.

While MDP’s primary election is set for May, Latheef said they will discuss with the opposition coalition parties and Former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom on fielding a single candidate, and will also make sure that candidate is the winner of MDP’s primary.

Noting that MDP supporters want Nasheed, the party leader, to run in the presidential election, he said that the party will work to make him be qualified to run.

But Nasheed, the party leader, will have to choose himself whether he wants to run in the MDP primary, which is open to all party members, said Latheef.

Latheef added that the party will be ready to beat President Yameen with any remaining candidate, if MDP's candidate were to be arrested after the opposition parties field their own ones.