Adam Azim, Ali Azim vie for MDP ticket in Malé mayoral election

Incumbent Malé City Mayor Adam Azim and former Central Henveiru MP Ali Azim have emerged as the two contenders for the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) ticket for the Malé mayoral post in the 2026 local council elections.

The MDP has not yet announced the date for its primary election, which will select candidates for the local council polls scheduled for late March next year. The party had opened nominations in August, inviting expressions of interest from members, and the deadline for submissions has since expired.

According to party sources, only Adam Azim and Ali Azim submitted their interest in contesting for the position.

Adam Azim formally launched his campaign on Tuesday night. He was elected Mayor of Malé after the resignation of former Mayor and current President Mohamed Muizzu, who vacated the post following his victory in the 2023 presidential election.

Adam Azim had secured the MDP ticket for the by-election without a primary, as there were no other contenders. He went on to win the mayoral by-election held in January 2024, defeating the PNC candidate Azima Shakoor by a margin of more than 2,500 votes.

Ali Azim, who has not yet officially launched his campaign, previously served as a Member of Parliament for three consecutive terms and has held several positions within the MDP.

He was previously aligned with former President Mohamed Nasheed during internal disputes within the MDP between Nasheed and then-President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih. When Nasheed later decided to form a new political party, The Democrats, Ali Azim played a leading role in its formation.

Before the new party was officially established, Ali Azim was expelled from the MDP for breaching party discipline. However, he rejoined the MDP in January this year after the party lifted disciplinary actions against several expelled members, including him.