Ahmed Adil withdraws from PNC Addu mayoral race
A PNC member said Dr Adil’s name had been put forward after discussions involving Mohamed Muizzu.
Education Ministry State Minister Dr Ahmed Adil has withdrawn his nomination to contest the Addu City mayoral ticket from the ruling People’s National Congress (PNC).
Dr Adil said in a post on Facebook on Friday that he had withdrawn his name, resulting in the cancellation of the Addu mayoral primary that had been scheduled to take place during the party’s internal elections on Saturday.
A PNC member said Dr Adil’s name had been put forward after discussions involving Mohamed Muizzu, adding that the nomination was likely made at the President’s request.
Dr Adil’s elder brother, Ibrahim Mohamed Didi, wrote on Facebook that Dr Adil’s name was not included on the primary ballot following a request by the PNC. He stated that the development would affect the party’s prospects in Addu and that the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) was now more likely to secure the mayoral seat.
Dr Adil first entered national politics as the running mate of Mohamed Nazim, leader of the Maldives National Party, during the previous presidential election. The ticket received a limited share of the vote.
When the PNC released its list of candidates for the primary, Addu was the only city where a mayoral primary had been scheduled. The withdrawal of Dr Adil’s nomination has now confirmed the party’s mayoral candidate for the city.
Mushrif Ali, a former executive director of the Addu City Council, will contest the Addu mayoral seat on the PNC ticket.
The PNC primary was held on Saturday from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm.
