Adam Azim secures Male’ mayoral ticket in MDP’s primary

Incumbent Male’ Mayor Adam Azim has secured Male’ mayoral ticket in main opposition MDP’s primary held on Friday to elect candidates who will contest April’s local council election on the party’s ticket.

The most anticipated in race in Friday’s primary, contested by 154 candidates in total, is the Male’ mayoral ticket.

Adam Azim won the Male’ mayoral ticket after competing against former Central Henveiru MP Ali Azim in a heated rivalry.

Ali Azim was among MDP members who defected the party in 2023 ahead of the presidential elections and to form The Democrats, campaigning against the MDP and its candidate, then-President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih. The Democrats members rejoined MDP in 2025, citing they believe “a strong opposition is the best way to win the local council election, improve Maldives’ future, uphold an accountable state, and restore the waning faith in a competitive multi-party system.”

Over 5,000 MDP members were eligible to vote in the primary from Male’ constituencies. While 17 ballot boxes in the primary were allocated for Male’ constituencies, Adam Azim emerged as the winner in majority of these boxes. 

Adam Azim and Ali Azim engaged in heated exchanges during the campaign phase.

During their campaign, both candidates spoke regarding important plans they have to transform Male’ City.

Incumbent Mayor Adam Azim’s campaign focused on his achievements as the mayor in the short span of one and a half years including resolving flooding in Male’ during heavy rain, cleaning gutters and bringing in dewatering pumps.

Adam Azim also underscored efforts undertaken to develop green spaces and parks in Male’ to make the congested city more hospitable for its residents and outsiders.

Adam Azim held senior posts in the last MDP administration. In this regard, he had first served as the managing director of State Trading Organization (STO), and later Maldives Transport and Contracting Company Limited (MTCC).