As no candidate received a majority, a second round was planned to be held in 28 September between the candidates who received the most votes in the first round, former President Mohamed Nasheed (who was contesting in the election following his controversial resignation, which he and many claimed was a coup d'état amidst the 2011–12 Maldives political crisis)[2][3] and Abdulla Yameen, paternal half-brother of former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom.

[7][8][9] Political friction in the country escalated in December 2011, when an opposition alliance 'Madhanee Ithihaad' was formed, which included the parties that supported the President Mohamed Nasheed in his 2008 presidential race.

Demands went up for an independent investigation into the Judge and to arrest him according to the constitution and for the president to stop using executive power over another institution.

In a runoff round, the candidates among the two who receives fifty (50%) percent of the valid votes cast, are elected to the office of the president.

[19] Leader of the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM), former president Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom, declared that he would not participate in any further election on 25 February.

The candidacy was won by the party's parliamentary group leader, and half-brother of Gayyoom, Abdulla Yameen with 63% of the vote, beating rival candidate Umar Naseer.

A total of 31,298 PPM members were eligible to vote in the party's presidential primary through one of the 167 ballot boxes placed in 140 islands.

[21] In August, new political party Maldives Development Alliance (MDA) signed a coalition agreement with PPM to provide support in the presidential election.