MDP’s Azim secures landslide victory in Male’ mayoral race

The main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP)’s candidate, Adam Azim has been elected as the new mayor of the Maldivian capital.

On Saturday, voters from the Maldivian capital elected Male’ City’s new mayor, and representatives to three additional seats at the council – the South Maafannu seat, Central Henveiru seat and South Henveiru seat.

Polls opened at 08:00 am and closed at 05:00 pm.

Preliminary results place Azim, the former CEO of Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC), in the lead in the mayoral race.

With 41 boxes counted, Azim has taken a huge lead with 5,303 votes.

The other mayoral candidates:

• Aishath Azima Shakoor, People’s National Congress (PNC): 3,301 votes
• Mohamed Saif Fathih, the Democrats: 1,634 votes
• Hussain Waheed, independent with People’s National Front (PNF) backing: 1,236 votes
• Shuaib Ali (Furahani Shuaib), independent: 91 votes

The by-elections had produced a low voter turnout. According to the Elections Commission (EC), only 17,500 out of 54,680 eligible voters took part in the elections.

Azim, the younger brother of Colonel (Retired) Mohamed Nazim, the leader of Maldives National Party (MNP) and parliamentary representative for Dhangethi constituency, had run projects worth millions under his direct supervision as MTCC’s chief during the MDP administration.

He previously headed other state companies, including the State Trading Organization (STO) and Male’ Water and Sewerage Company (MWSC).

Meanwhile, PNC won two of the three other vacant seats at the city council, while MDP won the third.

South Maafannu seat:

• Mohamed Rafeeu (independent): 58 votes
• Hassan Nizam (PNC): 383 votes
• Ali Is’haq (Democrats): 84 votes
• Ahmed Imran (MDP): 343 votes
• Mohamed Maizar Adam Zahir (independent): 215 votes

South Henveiru seat:

• Hawwa Nihla (MDP): 308 votes
• Aminath Rishfa Ahmed (PNC): 411 votes
• Aishath Afnan Ali (independent): 160 votes
• Aishath Leena (Democrats): 139 votes

Central Henveiru seat:

• Ahmed Rishwan Rasheed (MDP): 320 votes
• Mohamed Zain Hassan (independent): 190 votes
• Fathimath Shaufa Saleem (PNC): 305 votes
• Abdulla Athoof (independent): 229 votes

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 at 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.