Hamid files lawsuit seeking MDP primary re-election

A case has been lodged with the Civil Court seeking re-hold the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) primary held on January 28.

The case was filed by Hamid Abdul Gafoor, member of the Police Board and former parliamentary representative for South Henveiru constituency. He is being represented by Fathimath Dhiyana Saeed, who served as attorney general during MDP’s leader, former president Mohamed Nasheed’s administration.

Hamid declined to comment on the case, stating that all communications regarding the case would be made by Dhiyana.

Dhiyana was not immediately available for comment.

The contentious MDP primary had pitched Nasheed against President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, who went on to win the election with 61 percent of the votes, paving the path for re-election to a second term in office.

Nasheed, while he conceded defeat to President Solih, refuses to back him in the upcoming presidential election. Nasheed said he would make his decision regarding supporting the president based on the opinion of the members of a separate political branch within MDP he is working on forming.

The lawsuit comes as MDP prepares to officially present President Solih with the party’s presidential ticket on Friday.