Hulhumale' South MP Ahmed Shamheed has announced his intention to contest the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) primary to secure the party’s ticket for the upcoming presidential election.
Shamheed made the announcement via a trailer for the "Podcast with Shamheed," produced by Avas. The first episode of the podcast is scheduled for release this Thursday.
"God willing, I will compete in the upcoming MDP presidential primary. I want to add one thing: this was perhaps the only promise I made to the people of my constituency during the parliamentary campaign—the promise to contest the presidential primary," Shamheed stated.
Shamheed began his political career as a member of the Jumhooree Party (JP). He served as the Minister of Transport in former President Mohamed Waheed’s administration under a JP slot. He officially joined the MDP in November 2013.
He holds a PhD in Civil Engineering from the University of Leeds in the United Kingdom.
Former MDP Chairperson Fayyaz Ismail and former MDP President Abdulla Shahid have also announced their intentions to contest the party primary. While former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has privately discussed the possibility of running with some associates, he has yet to make an official announcement.
The MDP’s first electoral success came in 2008, when Mohamed Nasheed won the Maldives' first multi-party presidential election. However, Nasheed resigned before the end of his term following a mutiny by elements of the police and military.
The party returned to power in 2018 when Solih won the election on the MDP ticket. Solih also contested the most recent presidential election held in 2023.
