People's support for MDP's presidential candidate 'is undeniable', says former president

Opposition leader and former President Mohamed Nasheed has stated that “there is no doubt” that opposition presidential candidate Ibrahim Mohamed Solih “has the people’s support”.

Nasheed said this via a tweet penned in Dhivehi on Sunday morning, with an attached collage of photos of Solih interacting with the people as part of his presidential campaign, which is currently ongoing in capital Malé City.

While the opposition parties have agreed to unite behind a presidential candidate from Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) and a running mate from Jumhooree Party, Solih was selected as MDP’s presidential candidate after Nasheed withdrew from the presidential race.

The former president had won MDP’s primary with over 43,000 members voting in favor of him as its presidential candidate. However, Nasheed relinquished his presidential ticket, citing the Elections Commission’s insistence that he will not be allowed to contest due to his conviction on terror charges; he was sentenced to 13 years in prison in March 2015 after a trial deemed “politically motivated” by both locally and internationally.

Nasheed also assured that he has complete faith in MDP’s selected presidential candidate, during a meet and greet with Maldivians living in Sri Lanka on Saturday.

He said that there is no doubt that Solih will work to enforce MDP’s manifesto, and urged all to “assist” him to win the long-awaited election.