The opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) needs to revamp its branches, and galvanize efforts to hold the government accountable, said Hassan Latheef on Wednesday.

Latheef further said that he was aware of the obstacles that he would face in doing this, and that he was determined to persevere. He added that MDP’s upcoming election, scheduled for Friday, to appoint a chair is an opportunity for members to demonstrate the amount of support for the party.

Most prominent for his onus as former President Mohamed Nasheed’s lawyer, Latheef is the heart of MDP’s one-candidate election to elect a chairperson. Former MP, Ali Waheed, is the current chairperson. 

Latheef noted having travelled to many of the outer lying atolls in preparation for the elections. 

The consensus towards President Yamin Abdul Gayoom is poor, and that support for the opposition is increasing, he observed. However, he added that while support for the party had risen, there has been significant drops in the number of MDP activities across the nation. 

“Our activity across the country has been low, and we all know why” Latheef continued “The government’s tyranny and restriction on political and expressive freedom has restricted activity, forcing members to seize action”. 

He added that citizens have been disenchanted so much that they have begun to forget the freedoms they had, and democratic gains made after Nasheed's election. 

Nasheed had sent out a tweet on Thursday urging all members of MDP to participate in the election.

Latheef had served as Minister of Youth and Sports to the Nasheed administraion.