Speaker of the Parliament and former President of the Maldives Mohamed Nasheed has said some executives of state-owned enterprises were actively working to elect a specific candidate as the main-ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP)'s Chairperson.
In messages sent to the Whatsapp group for MDP's National Council, Nasheed targeted the Managing Director of utility company FENAKA, Ahmed Saeed, and said he was intimidating FENAKA staff in the atolls who belong to MDP, into voting for a particular candidate in the Chairperson election. He further alleged that Saeed was working to expel him from MDP.
Nasheed wrote that if Saeed contacts any FENAKA staff to gain support for a candidate, or if they are threatened, Nasheed himself would 'emerge' in public. It is believed he is hinting that he would publicly back a candidate and work to gain support for him.
Former Spokesperson of MDP, MP Imthiyaz Fahmy, and influential cabinet minister, Economic Minister Fayyaz Ismail, are contesting for MDP Chairpersonship. While Fayyaz is backed by most National Council members and senior government officials, Nasheed and his close aides and loyal supporters back Imthiyaz. Nasheed's family has been traveling to the atolls to garner support for Imthiyaz.
Saeed, who has announced his support for Fayyaz, responded to Nasheed's message. Saeed inquired from Nasheed when he threatened staff with termination and said he did not threaten anyone.
'President, when did I threaten staff with termination? There will be no such person. I have done no such thing and will not do so,' wrote Saeed, sharing a picture of a FENAKA staff wearing the uniform and posing with Imthiyaz. It is believed Saeed was attempting to prove that there was no fear for FENAKA staff in supporting any candidate.
The message was not well received by Nasheed, who responded that Saeed was 'challenging' him and dared Saeed to expel him from MDP. Despite Saeed's attempts to prove to Nasheed that he was not a threat to Nasheed, he was called a hypocrite and liar by Nasheed in the messages that followed.
