President’s Office Minister Ahmed Sameer and Malé Water and Sewerage Company (MWSC) Managing Director Hassan Shaah have officially joined the ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP).
The announcement was made by the MDP via a tweet on Wednesday, confirming that Sameer and Shaah, alongside several other former Jumhooree Party (JP) members, had handed their membership forms to President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and MDP Chairman Fayyaz Ismail.
Sameer, the former Secretary General of JP, left the party after its council decided to field a candidate in the upcoming presidential election. Expressing his disagreement with the decision, Sameer back then said it was his belief that staying within the ruling coalition and endorsing President Solih for a second term would be in the country’s best interest.
Shaah, a former JP council member, also committed his support for the MDP and President Solih. Several other former JP council members and party members followed Sameer and Shah into the MDP.