A leaked message from former President Mohamed Nasheed saying that his political career would end if President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih wins the September 9 presidential election is a fake screenshot, Nasheed has confirmed.
After leaving the ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) and forming The Democrats, Nasheed was expected to become the presidential candidate of the new party. But the party is fielding Hulhudhoo MP Ilyas Labeeb.
A screenshot of a purported message from Nasheed to The Democrats WhatsApp Group calling for unity among party members started circulating on Twitter on Tuesday afternoon.
“If we’re divided, what I see is the president taking the election very easily. The day that the president wins the election would be the last day of my political work. You should all think,” the message read.
Nasheed, who is also speaker of parliament, said the screenshot was “a blatant lie.”
“I didn’t say anything of the sort. President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih can’t win this election and I don’t shape my political career in relation to the president. This is fake news spread with funding from the President’s Office,” Nasheed said.
Some media outlets reported the contents of the screenshot as news.
The Democrats is a newly-formed party. Nasheed left the MDP after losing power within the party.
Nasheed’s political efforts have mainly been aimed at changing to a parliamentary system and becoming prime minister. The Democrats plan to hold a public referendum for the purpose if the party comes to power.
