Parliament Speaker and President of the main-ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), Mohamed Nasheed, has said he did not choose to contest in the MDP Primary because he had issues with President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.
Nasheed will go head to head with President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih in MDP's presidential primary slated for January 28.
Speaking at a campaign rally held at B. Thulaadhoo on Wednesday night, Nasheed said he chose to contest the primary because he was sure that the party would lose a large number of votes if President Solih contested the 2023 Presidential Election on the MDP ticket.
"Too many people are telling me that they will not vote [for President Solih] even if Anni asked them to," Nasheed said.
Nasheed said the sentiments were being repeated frequently and that he was confident that many people would vote for him instead of President Solih.
"This is not 2018. In 2018, all the coalition leaders were in jail," Nasheed said.
Nasheed, who was elected president in 2008 and ruled the country for three years, said he would return to power.
"Hopefully, I will come back to power again," Nasheed said.
Nasheed said's MDP's ticket must be given to a person who can get the most votes in the presidential election. He pledged to 'return' MDP to the people.
