Main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) would not nominate a candidate for the next presidential elections, if self exiled former president Mohamed Nasheed is not allowed to contest, the ex-president insisted Saturday.
Nasheed was jailed on terror charges after he was convicted and sentenced to 13 years in prison over the arbitrary detention of a sitting judge while he was president.
Nasheed now lives in self imposed exile in the UK after he was allowed to leave to Britain on medical leave in an internationally brokered deal in January last year.
Nasheed who is in neighbouring Sri Lanka during an interview told opposition Raajje TV that he had met with the party's national council and "made decisions" over the elections slated for 2018.
Nasheed had arrived in Sri Lanka to meet top party officials in a bid to "reunite" the divided MDP, party sources had said.
Nasheed revealed that MDP would hold a presidential primary soon adding that he would be looking to win the party ticket.
"Once we hold the primary we would know the choice of our members. I'm thinking of contesting the primary. I hope that I'll win. We would only know if the elections commission would reject the candidate who wins that primary in August [2018]," he explained.
According to Nasheed the party had already decided on a course of action if the elections commission rejects the MDP candidate.
One option, Nasheed said was for MDP to boycott the elections, despite it being an "alien" concept for the opposition party.
"The second option would be for MDP support another candidate, which would be entirely up to the party. But one thing is clear, MDP wants to end president Yameen's presidency," he added.
Nasheed also admitted that the party faces deep divisions if he stepped aside adding that a "government friendly" candidate could also emerge.
