Former President Dr. Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik has officially joined Jumhooree Party (JP).
Former President Waheed signed as a member of the party during a campaign rally held in Maamigili, Alifu Dhaalu Atoll. Former Minister of Fisheries, Marine Resources and Agriculture, Dr. Shainee Mohamed also joined the party at the rally. Both presented membership applications to the Leader of JP Qasim Ibrahim.
Former President Waheed joined JP after resigning from the main opposition Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) after serving as a member for 10 years. Shainee was also a member of PPM. Waheed resigned from the opposition after expressing his interest in contesting the upcoming presidential election on the PPM ticket. However, the PPM coalition had given the ticket to the Mayor of Male' City Dr. Mohamed Muizzu instead.
Waheed won the multi-party presidential election in a coalition with the main ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) and became Vice President in 2008. He also contested the presidential election in 2013 but did not gain enough votes to progress to the second round. He then dissolved his own party and joined the PPM.