Four candidates have applied to run in the MDP primary, Guraidhoo by-election, to be held on 11th March 2023.

As per the MDP Secretariat, the following party members have  applied for the up-coming primary:

1.Mohamed Musthafa, K. Maafushi

2. Salman Rasheed, K. Maafushi

3. Ibrahim Shaaz, K. Guraidhoo

4. Abdulla Saeed, K. Guraidhoo.

To be held on March 11, the party ticket will be awarded to the winner from primary election.

The Guraidhoo seat fell vacant after the MP Ibrahim Riza passed away in Malaysia on February 22. MP Riza was receiving treatment for Cancer illness for a long period of time, and  passed away while undergoing treatment for cancer.

MP Riza was a member of the main opposition Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) and also a Senator offor the party.

He had previously served as a member of 18th parliament  from 2014–2019. During former President Abdulla Yameen’s administration, he served as a member of the Judicial Service Commission (JSC), on behalf of the then ruling party PPM.

Other than the ruling MDP, Maldives National Party (MNP) and Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) have also decided to contest for the seat.