Fayyaz: Gapo’s actions have fractured MDP unity and breached party rules

Former Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) chairperson Fayyaz Ismail said Wednesday that interim chair Abdul Ghafoor Moosa (Gapo) has violated the party’s constitution by failing to maintain unity within the party.  

Fayyaz is among the 55 MDP national council members who have signed a no‑confidence petition seeking Ghafoor’s removal. The petition, submitted Wednesday, calls for an urgent National Council session to vote on dismissing the interim chair.   

In a post on X, Fayyaz said the results of the recent local council elections demonstrate that the Maldivian public is demanding reform, and that the MDP remains the party they trust to deliver it. He wrote that the party must modernise, evolve with the needs of the people, and begin by ensuring a fair and transparent process to elect a new chair.

He argued that the current chair has “failed to maintain the momentum and unity” that led to the party’s recent electoral success, and that Ghafoor had been “forced to disregard the constitution” in removing elected officials from their posts.  

The LCE election results are undeniable evidence that the Maldivian people demand reform, and that MDP is the vessel they have chosen to put their faith in.

We must answer their trust by modernizing, understanding the demands of the current day, and evolving to meet the citizens…

— Fayyaz Ismail (@faya_i) April 8, 2026

Fayyaz warned that without systemic reform, the party risks repeating past failures. He said the MDP must redefine its values, rebuild its foundations, and reconnect with its grassroots. He called for a party congress to be held urgently and urged members and the public to contribute ideas for reform.

The no‑confidence petition follows a series of disputes within the party, including the decision not to allow former president Mohamed Nasheed to speak at Monday night’s “Heyvalla Thayyaaru” victory rally, prompting Nasheed’s supporters to boycott the event. 

Tensions deepened after Ghafoor sent sudden dismissal letters to the party’s legal director Ahmed Mauroof and deputy chairperson Ibrahim Waheed (Iburey). The letters did not specify reasons for their removal.  

Iburey told Sun he does not accept the dismissal, arguing that the chairperson does not have the authority to remove him without National Council approval, as required under the MDP constitution.   

Under MDP rules, the chairperson can be removed by a simple majority of members present and voting at a National Council meeting. The council has 123 members, with a quorum of 31.  

The party has not yet officially commented on the no‑confidence motion, but the developments underscore the deepening divisions within the MDP as competing factions push for leadership change and structural reform.