The disciplinary committee of Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has revoked the candidacy of Ahmed Shareef in the party's primaries following accusations of sexual assault against a child.

The main ruling party revealed that withdrawn was the candidacy of Shareef, who applied to contest for a seat in Laamu Kunahandhoo island council.

On 24 January, the party also decided to void the candidacy of Madeeha Abdulla over insensitive comments she made regarding sexual assault against children. Madeeha was vying for a seat in Gaaf Alif Kanduhulhudhoo council.

Madeeha is related to the 82-year-old and 62-year-old who were arrested over allegations of sexually assaulting an almost two-year-old which unfolded on 15 January. She is to have publicly defended her relatives, accused of raping the child, during an interview with a local news outlet.

She defended the accused rapists by blaming the child’s maternal family of spreading false stories. She claimed that the toddler “would not be alive and walking around happily if she had really been raped” by the two elders.

Her comments met with public outcry, and MDP revoked her candidacy, asserting that the party stands against those who sympathize with child sex offenders as eradicating sexual assault against children is one of the party’s highest priorities.

Shareef is the second candidate to have had his candidacy revoked.