Former president Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has begun discussions with close allies and potential candidates for the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) presidential primary ahead of the 2028 election.

A source close to Solih told Mihaaru News that the former President is holding extensive discussions about contesting the MDP primary.

"If he has the support of many of the candidates, he will contest. This week, he met all the candidates except Shahid [former foreign minister Abdulla Shahid] and got their consent," the source said.

According to the source, Solih is scheduled to meet Shahid today.

"Shahid said that he will contest no matter who else is contesting," the source said.

Solih won the 2018 presidential election on the MDP ticket, defeating then-President Abdulla Yameen, and served as president until 2023. He secured the MDP's presidential ticket for the 2023 election after defeating former President Mohamed Nasheed in the party's primary.

Following the primary, Nasheed left the MDP and formed a new party, The Democrats. The party fielded its own candidate in the 2023 presidential election, a move widely viewed as having contributed to the split in opposition support that prevented Solih from securing a second term.

Solih is now considering another run for the presidency on the MDP ticket, while Nasheed has said he does not intend to contest the 2028 presidential election. Instead, he has indicated that he will support former economic minister Fayyaz Ismail.