Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has urged all parties to refrain from obstructing its presidential campaign efforts. The remark was made by Mariya Ahmed Didi, the spokesperson for the party's candidate, while accusing the opposition of interfering with their campaign events in various atolls.
During a press conference, Spokesperson Mariya expressed concern over incidents of arson occurring at MDP campaign sites. She emphasised that certain individuals have been working to hinder campaign events during President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih's visits as the MDP candidate. She further noted that the opposition has been circulating misinformation about law enforcement's actions to restrain these individuals, falsely claiming they were targeting innocent civilians. She accused the opposition of intentionally creating disorder in order to exploit the situation for photo opportunities.
Additionally, Mariya highlighted the importance of residents in the atolls exercising their right to freedom of expression without obstructing the campaign activities of presidential candidates. She added that candidates should not face threats of physical harm.
Furthermore, Mariya said that voting is a non-political process and should be directed toward the betterment of national development. She called upon all citizens to actively participate in the electoral process and warned that those who disrupt the proceedings will be held accountable by the security services. She noted that unlike the opposition's behavior during the political turmoil in 2018, MDP did not impede the campaigns of its rivals and has consistently respected the rights of other candidates.