Former President Mohamed Nasheed has said he sees no reason for former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih to contest the MDP ticket in the upcoming 2028 presidential election.

Speaking on SSTV’s “Baaru Hathareh” programme, Nasheed said that while he still has no shortage of supporters who want him to return to power, his full backing in this race lies with former MDP Chairperson Fayyaz Ismail. He added that his position would not change even if Solih entered the race for the party’s ticket.

“No matter who steps forward [for the presidential ticket], I will remain where I stand. No, I am here backing Fayyaz,” Nasheed said.

When asked whether his own name would appear on the ballot should Solih contest the MDP primary, Nasheed reiterated that he did not see why Solih would want to run for the position in the first place.

Nasheed’s remarks come at a time when growing calls from within the party urging him to contest the 2028 presidential race on the MDP ticket have been making the rounds.

Nasheed and Fayyaz, who once traded sharp public jabs at one another, have now been working together for more than a year. The two have jointly put forward a set of sweeping proposals under the banner of “Bodu Badhal” (The Big Change), calling for significant reforms to the constitution and the system of governance. Among the proposals are separating the roles of head of state and head of government into two distinct offices, along with major changes concerning parliament and the independent institutions.

While Nasheed had earlier publicly endorsed Fayyaz for the party’s presidential ticket, reports suggest that former MDP President Abdulla Shahid and former Vice President Faisal Naseem are also among those expected to contest the party’s primary.