Two pro-government members of Hinnavaru island’s local government council have on Friday night announced support for the Joint Opposition.

Ahmed Rishwan and Ibrahim Athif officially joined the Maldivian Democratic Party at the rally held in Hinnavaru island. Presidential candidate Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, native to Hinnavaru, had thanked the two council members.

In addition to these two men, another native of the island Ahmed Shareef had also announced his support for Solih’s presidential bid. Shareef is a member of the state-run Maldives Airports Company Limited’s board of directors, but has resigned from this post.

Solih said that Shareef’s decision to support the Joint Opposition is a sacrifice he made for the good of the country and its people.

Council member Rishwan had been a member of the party before aligning himself with the ruling Progressive Party of Maldives ahead of the local council ballots last year.