Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has assured that no one will have influence in their upcoming primary election.

MDP spokesperson Imthiyaz Fahmy said this at a press conference on Sunday in response to a question regarding the fact that influential politicians are contesting in the party’s primary election.

Those running in the primary election include spokesperson Fahmy, chairperson Hassan Latheef, as well as former President and party leader Mohamed Nasheed, along with other senior party members.

MDP will be contesting for 86 seats in April’s parliamentary election, all seats except for F. Nilandhoo. The party has already given its ticket to nine candidates, since they were the only ones contesting in the respective constituencies.

MDP’s primary election is to be held on January 18, from 2:30pm to 8:00pm. Ballot boxes will be placed in all the party campaign sites in the country, and at social centers in islands without campaign sites.