Candidate in main-ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP)'s Chairperson Election, Economic Minister Fayyaz Ismail, has said the party should not distance itself from President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih's administration.

The minister's comments come while Parliament Speaker and President of MDP, Mohamed Nasheed, recently stated that the current administration is not run to MDP's liking, and called on the party to disassociate itself from the government. Nasheed has previously accused Fayyaz of corruption and had urged him to resign from the Cabinet. He has also attempted to take a no-confidence vote against Fayyaz through the Parliament.

While speaking at a campaign event in Fuvahmulah City, Fayyaz said the party could not distance itself from President Solih's administration despite Nasheed's appeal. He said only MDP could address and resolve the issues faced by the Maldivian people, and the party must therefore remain aligned with the government.

'The best course of action would be to figure out ways we can work with the government,' he said.

The minister said if MDP abandoned the government, the party would surely lose the 2023 Presidential Election. He said it would be unwise to target winning the 2028 election after giving up on the 2023 election in this manner.

Fayyaz spoke on the harassment and verbal attacks directed toward his campaign team and asked those who commit the acts to direct the words at him and not his team. He said his aides should not be described as 'bees and flies' and said he would not accept such actions.

MDP's Chairperson Election is slated for May 14. Fayyaz will be going head to head against Maafannu North MP Imthiyaz Fahmy.