On Friday, former President Mohamed Nasheed apologized to members of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) for leaving the party and campaigning against it during the 2023 presidential election.

Nasheed made the apology during a campaign meeting in Dhuvaafaru ahead of the upcoming MDP chairperson election.

The apology came in response to a party member who asked Nasheed to seek forgiveness from MDP members for his actions during the election period.

“In 2023, Nasheed made a small mistake. That’s not a big issue, as politics involves coming and going. However, we, the members, are asking for an apology,” the member said during the meeting.

In response, Nasheed said he felt compelled to address the question and explained the reasons that led to his departure from the party.

According to Nasheed:

- Former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih stopped communicating with him after the MDP gained 65 parliamentary seats in the 2019 elections.

- Concerns persisted about the investigation into the assassination attempt against him on May 6, 2021.

- Former MP Ali Azim was expelled from the party following the presidential primary.

- There were also efforts to remove MPs Hassan Latheef, Ilyas Labeeb, and Eva Abdulla.

“When I was called before the disciplinary committee for removal, if I had any self-respect, I had to leave at that point,” Nasheed said.

He also mentioned that leaving the MDP was personally difficult for him, describing the party as “my entire life.”

While apologizing to party members, Nasheed suggested they should also seek forgiveness from him.

Regarding the 2023 election, Nasheed argued that the MDP’s defeat was not solely because he left the party.

He claimed that former President Solih lacked enough public support to win and acknowledged the efforts of party members during the campaign.

“I do not believe the MDP lost the presidency just because I left,” Nasheed stated.

After leaving the MDP, Nasheed founded The Democrats and spent two years in Ghana working with the Climate Vulnerable Forum.

He rejoined the MDP in June last year.

Currently, Nasheed is contesting for the party’s chairperson position with support from former MDP chair Fayyaz Ismail.

Meanwhile, the faction allied with Solih and MDP President Abdulla Shahid is backing MP Meekail Ahmed Naseem of South Galolhu.

Shahid has publicly stated that, as party president, he remains neutral in the chairperson election and is not officially endorsing any candidate.