The interim Chairperson of the opposition MDP, Abdul Ghafoor Moosa (Gapo), stated today that although a no-confidence motion has been submitted against him to the party’s National Council, he will not resign from his post and that the matter must be decided by a vote in the National Council.

A petition for Ghafoor's no-confidence motion, signed by 55 members, was submitted today requesting a meeting of the party’s National Council.

When questioned regarding the matter, Ghafoor said that the arrangements for holding the National Council meeting have been handed over to the Deputy Chairperson (Financial), Ahmed Abdulla.

"The decision will be made by vote at that meeting. I will not resign," said Ghafoor, who also serves as the Member of Parliament for the Hanimaadhoo constituency.

The effort to remove Ghafoor from the interim Chairpersonship began amidst the heat of the issue where letters signed by him were sent yesterday dismissing the party's Deputy Chairperson (Administrative), Ibrahim Waheed (Ibrey), and the Legal Director, Ahmed Mauroof.

However, no reason for their dismissal was specified in the letters.

Referring to that issue today, Ghafoor stated that those individuals were removed because they were not providing administrative cooperation in the work.

He added that if they are dissatisfied with the decision, they still have the opportunity to take the matter forward by submitting it to the MDP’s Appeals Judges' Bureau.

"If the Appeals Judges' Bureau reviews the case and decides to reinstate them to their positions, they should do so. That opportunity is available to them," Ghafoor said.

Ghafoor was elected to the post of MDP’s interim Chairperson on December 8 last year with the votes of 65 National Council members. While a petition has been submitted for a no-confidence vote, the party's regulations mandate that a National Council meeting must be held if a request is submitted with the signatures of 10 members.

The National Council consists of 123 members, and a meeting can proceed with a quorum of 31 members.

Among those who signed the petition requesting Ghafoor's removal are former Chairperson Fayyaz Ismail, former Defense Minister Mariya Ahmed Didi, former Addu Meedhoo MP Rozaina Adam, former MP Yasir Abdul Latheef, former State Minister for Housing Akram Kamaluddin, and Ibrahim Ameer, who served as Finance Minister during the MDP government.

The internal strife within the MDP flared up again over an incident where former President Mohamed Nasheed was initially given the opportunity to speak at a rally held last Monday night to celebrate the party's success in last Saturday's local council elections, but that item was later removed from the agenda.

As the issue escalated, Nasheed and activists supporting him boycotted the rally.