New Male’ Mayor, three councilors take oath of office

Opposition MDP’s Adam Azim was sworn in as Male’ City Mayor on Monday night.

Supreme Court Justice Mahaz Ali Zahir administered the oath to Azim and three newly elected councilors for vacant seats in Male’ City Council.

The position of Male’ City mayor became vacant after President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu resigned to take office as the Maldivian president in November 2023.

Meanwhile, the three other seats at the council were vacated after councilors resigned to assume positions in the new administration. They are; Abdulla Nasir, who represented South Maafannu constituency; Adam Rameez, who represented Central Henveiru constituency; and Fathimath Shamnaz Ali Saleem, who represented South Henveiru constituency.

Opposition MDP’s Azim won the by-election on January 13^th by a landslide difference, competing against ruling PNC’s candidate Azima Shakoor. In this regard, Azim received 7,621 votes while Azima received 5,031 votes.

The three newly elected councilors are Hassan Nazim for South Maafannu constituency, Aminath Rishfa Ahmed for South Henveiru constituency and Ahmed Rishwan Rasheed for Central Henveiru constituency.

Nazim and Rishfa were elected on PNC’s ticket. Rishwan, who was elected on MDP’s elect, signed to PNC on Monday.

Male’ City Council comprises of 19 councilors. With Rishwan’s shift in party, the council has 13 members representing the ruling PPM-PNC coalition.