Former President Mohamed Nasheed has expressed interest in contesting the 2028 presidential election, marking a potential political comeback amid lingering tensions with his former party, the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP).

The revelation came through a private text message he sent to several close associates within the MDP, in which he wrote: "I am thinking of competing for Presidency in 2028. What do you think about it? No matter what you say, it won’t affect our relationship."

Nasheed’s message is significant as it comes nearly two years after he dramatically broke away from the MDP — a party he co-founded and led to historic electoral victories — and formed a new political faction. In early 2023, citing ideological differences and frustration with the party’s direction under then-leadership, Nasheed left the MDP and launched the ‘Fikurehge Dhirun’ movement, which later evolved into The Democrats.

His departure dealt a serious blow to the unity of the MDP and signaled the start of one of the most turbulent internal rifts in the party's history. After registering The Democrats as a formal political party, Nasheed vowed to dismantle the MDP from within. In a now-famous speech that captured his hardening stance, he declared:

"Roolhaalaanan, Roolhaalaanan, Thi Party Roolhaalaanan."

(“We will tear it apart, we will tear it apart, we will tear this party apart.”)

With his sights now set on 2028, Nasheed’s re-entry into the presidential race may once again reshape the political landscape of the Maldives — and reignite old rivalries that have yet to heal.