2 Male councillors join PNC; MDP's council seats down to 1

Two councillors elected on the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) ticket have signed up for the ruling People's National Congress (PNC), with the number of MDP representatives in the Male city council now at just one. 

Henveiru North councillor Aishatj Nizlee Rasheed and Galolhu Central councillor Mariyam Reehan Nazim signed up for the PNC in the presence of President Mohamed Muizzu during a ceremony held Friday evening to launch the manifesto of PPM-PNC mayoral candidate Azima Shakoor.

Both councillors were warmly welcomed by the participants.

Reehan, who was elected to the council on the MDP ticket, left the party last year and joined The Democrats, a breakaway party formed by loyalists of former president Mohamed Nasheed after his split from then President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih. 

However, after losing the Democratic internal election to Aishath Alaika Adnan for the post of female vice president, she also left the Democrats and remained an independent.

Nizlee remained in the MDP until she joined the PNC Thursday evening.

With this change, only Maafannu West councillor Mohamed Areesh represents the MDP in the Male city council.