The Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) President Abdullah Shahid has announced that it will not endorse any specific candidate for the party’s mayoral ticket.
Tensions between incumbent Male' City Mayor Adam Azim and former MP Ali Azim have escalated in recent weeks, fuelling internal debate within the party. Former President Mohamed Nasheed and his allies are backing Ali Azim, while supporters of former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih are visibly aligned with Adam Azim’s campaign.
Amid speculation that the party president was also supporting Ali Azim, Shahid publicly denied the claim on Tuesday evening.
ޕާރޓީގެ ރައީސްގެ މަޤާމުގައި ހުރެ ވަކި ކެންޑިޑޭޓަކަށް އެތެރޭގެ އިންތިޚާބެއްގައި ތާއީދު ކުރުމަކީ އަޅުގަނޑު ޤަބޫލުކުރާ އުސޫލެއްނޫން. ލޯކަލް ކައުންސިލް އިންތިޚާބުގެ އެމް.ޑީ.ޕީ ޕްރައިމަރީގައި ވާދަކުރައްވާ ކެންޑިޑޭޓުންނަށް އަޅުގަނޑު ކާމިޔާބީއަށް އެދެން. އެމް ޑީ ޕީ ގެ ޓިކެޓް ކާމިޔާބު…
— Abdulla Shahid (@abdulla_shahid) December 23, 2025
In a post on social media, Shahid said he does not believe it is appropriate for a party president to support any particular candidate in an internal election.
Shahid wished success to all candidates contesting the MDP primaries for the upcoming local council elections. He added that he is prepared to work with whoever wins the party ticket to ensure an MDP victory.
“With the good grace of Allah, the MDP will win this election,” Shahid said.
MDP's top brass, including former Maldivian president Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, party's chairperson Fayyaz Ismail, and leader Abdulla Shahid attend the final rally for MDP's parliamentary campaign on April 19, 2024.
Competition within the MDP is intensifying not only for the mayoral ticket but also ahead of the 2028 presidential election.
Solih and former MDP chairperson Fayyaz Ismail have both expressed interest in contesting the presidency. Shahid is also seen as a potential contender, though he has not formally announced his candidacy. Fayyaz and Nasheed are currently aligned, while Shahid and Solih appear to be working together.
Solih and Nasheed fell out during the last presidential election cycle. After the two contested the MDP primary, Nasheed left the party and formed the Democrats, which fielded Ilyas Labeeb as its presidential candidate. The Democrats did not back the MDP in the second round.
Earlier in the current administration, Nasheed said he intended to participate in the government. However, after leaving the Democrats, the party’s leadership decided to rejoin the MDP later this year.