Former MDP Chairman Fayyaz Ismail has announced his support for MP Ghafoor, the nominee of former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s faction, to serve as the interim chairman of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP).  
Fayyaz, who became chairman on May 23, 2022 and also served as Economic Minister under Solih’s administration, resigned from the post at the party’s National Assembly session on November 23. His departure triggered a contentious struggle over the interim leadership.  
The MDP decided that the responsibilities of chairman would be temporarily handed to a member appointed by the National Assembly until a formal election is held. At the Assembly meeting on November 28, factions aligned with Solih and former President Mohamed Nasheed clashed over nominations.  
Solih’s faction initially considered nominating former Speaker Mohamed Aslam, but the party’s legal team ruled that only elected members of the Assembly could contest.  
Nasheed’s faction put forward former Dhidhdhoo MP Abdulla Waheed, who was reported to have received 47 votes, one short of the required 48.  
Despite confusion, Vice‑Chairman Ibrahim Waheed (Ibra) later claimed Waheed had secured 48 votes and declared him interim chairman. Waheed subsequently resigned on November 30, citing disputes and pressure from Solih and party president Abdulla Shahid.  
Hanimaadhoo MP Abdul Ghafoor Moosa. (Photo/People's Majlis)
In a message to the MDP National Assembly WhatsApp group on December 1, Fayyaz urged that a new meeting be held promptly to elect the interim chairman, stating: “I extend my support for MP Ghafoor.”  
Party president Abdulla Shahid acknowledged that the earlier meeting had descended into chaos and recommended restarting the process.  
Fayyaz’s resignation letter noted that internal unrest and factional divisions were among his reasons for stepping down. He said he wished to remove the perception that he was obstructing Solih and Shahid in managing party affairs.  
The MDP remains split between Solih’s faction and Nasheed’s faction, echoing divisions that emerged before the last presidential election.