LGA CEO Nimal joins race for PNC vice president
With Nimal's announcement, the number of candidates contesting the six Vice President positions has increased to eight.
Local Government Authority (LGA) Chief Executive Officer Mohamed Nimal has announced that he will seek re-election as a Vice President of the People's National Congress (PNC) at the party's congress next month.
With Nimal's announcement, the number of candidates contesting the six Vice President positions has increased to eight.
The candidates are:
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Asmaa Rasheed, Member of Parliament for Maafannu Medhu constituency
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Mohamed Hussain Shareef, Government Spokesperson
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Ibrahim Shujau, Member of Parliament for Baarashu constituency
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Abdulla Rafiu, Minister of Sports, Fitness and Recreation
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Mohamed Saeed, Minister of Economic Development and Trade
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Fathimath Sauda, Member of Parliament for Nilandhoo constituency
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Ahmed Shiyam, Minister of Fisheries and Ocean Resources
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Mohamed Nimal, Chief Executive Officer of the Local Government Authority
In a Facebook post on Thursday, Nimal said he had decided to contest for a further five-year term as a party Vice President.
Seeking the support of party members, Nimal said the PNC had spent most of the current term in opposition and that he had continued to serve the party despite various challenges during that period.
"On many occasions when despair struck, the encouraging words from beloved party members and the public were the greatest foundation that kept me going," he said.
Nimal also said he would not lie for political or personal gain and pledged to remain committed to that principle. He said he would continue to stand with party members during both challenging and successful periods.
Among the current PNC Vice Presidents, Defence Minister Mohamed Ghassan Maumoon is the only incumbent who has not announced whether he will seek re-election.
Incumbent Vice Presidents Mohamed Saeed, Ibrahim Shujau, Mohamed Hussain Shareef, Ahmed Shiyam and Mohamed Nimal have all confirmed their candidacies.
The PNC congress next month will elect senior party office-bearers, with the exception of the posts of Party President and Chairperson.
Under the PNC constitution, the President of the Republic serves as Party President while the party is in government, and the Party Chairperson is appointed by the President. As a result, no elections will be held for those two positions at the upcoming congress.
