During the
1989 parliamentary election, Manik ran against then–President
Maumoon Abdul Gayoom's brother-in-law,
Ilyas Ibrahim, and later won.
2008 presidential election After his career in the United Nations, Manik returned to the Maldives once again to stand for the leadership of the newly formed
Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP). Manik lost the leadership election by a narrow margin. Waheed had given up his position in UNICEF. In 2006, after his work with MDP, he took up a consultancy position. In June 2008, Waheed returned to the Maldives and formed his own political party. Later on, most of his party members, including all the senior figures, reverted to MDP:
Gaumee Itthihaad. Manik was chosen as the presidential candidate of
Gaumee Itthihaad Party (GIP) in the beginning of September. However, when the election date was announced in early October, GIP formed a coalition with the Maldivian Democratic Party, after being approached by the two other main opposition groups: the New Maldives Movement and the
Jumhooree Party. Though Manik was asked to become the vice presidential candidate for both the other parties, Gaumee Itthihaad chose to form an alliance with the largest opposition party, Maldivian Democratic Party, only days before the deadline for the submission of the candidates names. Mohamed Nasheed who was elected as the presidential candidate of MDP chose Waheed as his running mate in the
October 2008 presidential election. This was the first democratic election in the history of the country and ended Gayoom's 30-year reign. After they won the election, Nasheed and Manik, were sworn in on 11 November 2008, in a special session of the
People's Majlis at
Dharubaaruge. Manik was inaugurated as the nation's first democratically elected vice president, the first to serve in the post when it was reinstated after over 50 years.
Coup allegations, the CoNI Report and the Presidency (2012–2013) Mahathir Mohamad in
Kuala Lumpur On 7 February 2012, Manik assumed the presidency following the disputed resignation of President Nasheed, who asserted that he was forced to resign at gunpoint in a
coup d'état. A week later, a number of individuals, including Manik's own brother,
Naushad Waheed, accused Manik of complicity in the alleged coup. Manik was also criticised both by Nasheed's party and several Human Rights organizations and by the international community for several human rights violations that occurred on the 8th of February following clashes between Nasheed's supporters and the Maldives Police. Manik and his supporters, however, state that the transfer of power was voluntary and constitutional, and have agreed to launch an independent review of the events surrounding Nasheed's resignation.
BBC News reported that Manik's subsequent appointment of several ministers associated with the former president
Gayoom "raised eyebrows", and that "most believe other forces were at play" behind the protests that chased Nasheed from office. On 11 February, Manik offered a unity cabinet, but this offer was rejected by Nasheed's supporters. On 19 February, Waheed appointed Gayoom's daughter Dhunya Maumoon a State Minister, prompting a new round of criticism, but also appointed Shaheem Ali Saeed, who is "considered progressive". In the weeks following the alleged coup, Nasheed requested that the
Commonwealth of Nations threaten the Maldives with expulsion unless new elections are held. The Commonwealth has supported Nasheed's call for early elections, calling on both Nasheed and Waheed to enter talks to arrange new polls before the year's end. Manik said that early elections could be possible, but that "the conditions have to be right to ensure there will be free and fair elections". On 1 March 2012, Manik was blocked from opening the Maldivian Parliament by Nasheed, who accused him of breaking a promise to set a date for a new election. Nasheed initially accepted this report "with reservations", but later refuted it in its entirety. The Commission of National Inquiry was constituted on 21 February 2012 and published its report on 30 August 2012. The CoNI was composed of 5 members and two advisors, including representatives of the
United Nations and
Commonwealth. Former Supreme Court Justice of Singapore G.P. Selvam was nominated by the Commonwealth to head the commission. The CoNI's 5 Members also included a representative of Nasheed who was actively involved in the entire process of the report from investigation to drafting, but resigned on 29 August 2012, the day before the CoNI Report was published. Speaking on his resignation, the two advisors - representatives of the United Nations and Commonwealth stated that “Four of the five members [of CoNI] acted with independence and integrity in carrying out the important task for the future of the nation. The other member [nominated by Nasheed] was not at all times willing or able to act independently and resigned the evening before this report was submitted and published... Without any justification, [he] created discord and mistrust in a community which desperately needs reconciliation.” The CoNI Report concluded that "in sum, the Commission concludes that there was no illegal coercion or intimidation nor any coup d’état. The Commission has received no evidence supporting or to substantiate these allegations." "In summary, the commission's findings are as follows: • The change of President in the Republic of Maldives on 7 February 2012 was legal and constitutional. • The events that occurred on 6 and 7 February 2012 were, in large measure, reactions to the actions of President Nasheed. The Supreme Court annulled the initial first round citing irregularities and ordered a new vote, leading to a series of postponements. In 2022, he gave a video speech at the China-Indian Ocean Region Forum on Development Cooperation discussing about the effects of
climate change in the Maldives. He expressed interest in running for president in the
2023 Maldivian presidential election if president
Abdulla Yameen was unable to. He later left the PPM in 2023 citing that he feels that he should be using his skills to benefit Maldivian citizens. In the same year, he joined the
Jumhooree Party (JP). In 2025, Manik was appointed by president
Mohamed Muizzu as a Special Envoy of the President without remuneration. ==Criticism and controversies==