Former Vice President of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), Alhan Fahmy, has announced his decision to withdraw from the upcoming race for the party’s chairpersonship.

The election, which is scheduled to take place on the 12th of next month, originally featured Fahmy alongside high-profile candidates including former President Mohamed Nasheed and Galolhu South MP Mikael Naseem. However, Fahmy has now officially opted out of the contest.

Communicating his decision via the social media platform X, Alhan stated that the current administrative state of the MDP is not conducive to a free and fair election. He expressed concerns that the party’s internal management would prevent a just electoral outcome, leading him to reverse his initial decision to run.

This development follows a period of significant internal strife within the MDP. Despite the return of President Nasheed and his loyalists to the party, factions remain deeply divided. Tensions recently escalated during a celebration for the party’s Local Council Election success, where Nasheed was reportedly denied the opportunity to speak. The incident briefly led to a motion to remove the acting chairperson, Ghafoor, though the request was later withdrawn.