MP Muizzu withdraws support for Nasheed, backs President

North Henveiru MP Ibrahim Muizzu, who had sided with Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP)’s leader Mohamed Nasheed in the contentious MDP presidential primary, has switched over to President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s faction.

In a tweet Monday night, Muizzu said he has decided to support President Solih – who defeated Nasheed in the party primary in January – in the upcoming presidential election.

އެމް.ޑީ.ޕީ ރިޔާސީ ޕްރައިމަރީ ކާމިޔާބު ކުރެއްވެވި ރައީސް އިބްރާހިމް މުޙައްމަދު ޞާލިހް އާއެކީ އެމް.ޑީ.ޕީ އަށް ރިޔާސީ އިންތިޚާބް ކާމިޔާބު ކޮށް ދިނުމަށް މަސައްކަތް ކުރުމަށް އަޅުގަނޑު ނިންމައިފިން. pic.twitter.com/LBtbGtxeT8

— Ibrahim Muixxu (@muixxu) February 6, 2023

Other MPs who had once been among Nasheed’s closest allies who now back President Solih include Thulhaadhoo MP Hisaan Hussain, Fonadhoo MP Moosa Siraj, South Galolhu MP Meekail Ahmed Naseem, and Inguraidhoo MP Hassan Ahmed.

Nasheed, while he conceded defeat to President Solih, refuses to back him in the upcoming presidential election. Nasheed said he would make his decision regarding the election based on the opinion of the members of a separate political branch within MDP he is working on forming.

The MDP presidential primary had a voter turnout of 71 percent.

President Solih won the vote with 61 percent (24,566 votes), while Nasheed won 38 percent (15,641 votes).