Mayor of Fuvahmulah City Ismail Rafeeq defeats Mayor of Male' City Dr. Mohamed Muizzu to win the seat for the city council representative on the board of the Local Government Authority (LGA).
Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP)’s Rafeeq won the election to the LGA board with 24 votes. He received three more votes than Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM)’s Muizzu, who received 21 votes.
In addition to the city council representative, the election for the representative member from island councils was also carried out on June 12. Island councillor of Guraidhoo, Kaafu Atoll, Hussain Yameen Mohamed from PPM won the election with 416 votes. Island councillor of Thoddoo, Alifu Alifu Atoll, Ahmed Karam from MDP came second with 414 votes.
Meanwhile, the President of Kaafu Atoll Council Ahmed Nimal from PPM has secured the seat for the atoll council representative at the LGA board without an election. President of Noonu Atoll Council Mohamed Basheer from MDP had also applied to contest for the seat, but his application was rejected by the Elections Commission of the Maldives (ECM) stating his documents were submitted after the deadline.
LGA is a state institution established under the Decentralisation Act to regulate, oversee and develop the local governance system of the Maldives as envisioned in the Constitution. LGA comprises of a nine-member board including a president appointed cabinet member responsible for overseeing bodies established by the legislature or executive, a woman with knowledge of gender equality, a member experienced in governance or public administration, a member from a social non-governmental organisation, a member appointed by city councillors, a member appointed by presidents of atoll councils, a member appointed by island councillors, a representative from Ministry of Finance appointed by Minister of Finance and a Chief Executive Officer from the authority appointed by the president.