For the first time in its history, the archipelago of Maldives saw multiparty elections for president on 8 October 2008. This historic event was an outcome of the democratic process that began in 2005. Since the time the incumbent President Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom came to power in 1978, he has faced six elections and all of them had only one candidate running for the post, Gayyoom himself. In the first round of elections, official results shows that incumbent Gayyoom (Dhivehi Raiyithunge Party, DRP) polled 40.61 per cent votes, Mohamed Nasheed (Maldivian Democratic Party, MDP) 25.08 per cent, Dr. Hassan Saeed (an independent candidate) 16.78 per cent, Gasim Ibrahim (Republican Party) 15.35 per cent, Umar Naseer (Islamic Democratic Party, IDP) 1.44 per cent and Ibrahim Ismail (Social Liberal Party, SLP) 0.78 per cent. The 8 October election results in Maldives are a surprise for both Asia's longest-serving President and the opposition parties in Maldives.

Although many expected this election to witness a runoff, this margin was never expected, the reasons being that although President Gayyoom has been serving for long one could not completely assert for sure that most Maldivians were looking for change as is evident from the fact the still secured the highest votes of all candidates. However, despite the economic growth that President Gayyoom has orchestrated in Maldives for past three decades; the opposition parties have been successful in jointly gaining more than half the votes in this election.

The next round of elections will be held on 28 October 2008 between and Gayyoom and the MDP candidate Nasheed, where either would have to secure absolute majority to become the next President of Maldives. It is likely that the runoff would witness a close race between both these candidates and their success depends on how both negotiate with the rest of the divided votes.

The divided opposition, soon after the declaration of the results came together to support the MDP candidate Mohamed Nasheed based on their agreement in the National Unity Alliance. This Alliance between the MDP, the religious conservative Adhaalath Party (AP), IDP, SLP and the New Maldives Movement, was formed to field a joint candidate against President Gayyoom in this presidential election, but due to their failure in finding one, it was agreed that these parties would field their own candidates and in the event of a runoff, everybody would support the candidate with most number of votes amongst them.

However, it is important to take into consideration that the Republican Party which fielded Gasim Ibrahim, Former Finance Minister of Maldives, was not part of the this alliance, as he was in President Gayyoom's Cabinet when this alliance was formed. Nevertheless, immediately after Gasim resigned his post and became the presidential candidate of the Republican Party, he formed another alliance which too included the AP in addition to the Maldives National Congress.

Soon after the announcement of a second round of elections by the Election Commission, the MDP called for a press conference and declared that all four candidates who lost the race would support Nasheed. Dr. Hassan Saeed was the first to go public supporting Nasheed's candidature followed by Ibrahim Ismail and others. After an initial delay, Gasim Ibrahim also supported Nasheed, joining the rest of the opposition bandwagon.

With just President Gayyoom and Nasheed running against each other in the runoff the people of Maldives would have to choose between the old leadership and the reformists. Gayyoom might have a hard task before him as the election results demonstrate that there are more people who look forward to a new leadership. On the other hand, Nasheed would need to bank on anti-Gayyoom sentiment and also on consolidating the opposition votes. However, as was seen earlier during the referendum of 18 August 2007 and also in this election, Gayyoom could use the economic development in Maldives as a trump card in securing a majority; his economic policies have made Maldives the country with the highest per capita income in South Asia.

Added to the economic basket is the implementation of the most the clauses in the democratic reforms that the President promised in 2004. Until now most of the promises have been carried out including the New Constitution that was ratified on 7 August 2008. Registration of political parties and the multiparty presidential elections were part of the reform agenda promised by President Gayyoom.

Meanwhile, this election is very crucial to President Gayyoom and his family as their survival in Maldives would depend on its results. Ibrahim Nasir, Gayyoom's predecessor as President had to flee to Singapore soon after the 1978 elections in which the latter came to power. Will the Gayoom meet the same fate, if he loses, is the million-dollar question that the opposition is yet to answer.