Nazim: Reports of my dismissal as LGA President are false

Minister of Defence Mohamed Nazim has said that the reports of him being dismissed from his post as President of Local Government Authority (LGA) are ‘lies’.

Nazim said at a press conference, called after five members of LGA passed a no-confidence motion against him, that the voting on the no-confidence motion violated procedures.

He said that the voting was conducted without the knowledge of LGA Board members.

Five out of nine members of LGA Board voted in favour of the no-confidence motion against Nazim at today’s meeting, and also passed to appoint LGA Member Sujau Hussain as its interim leader.

Nazim said that an investigation was underway against Sujau following an ethics violation, and that this issue has also been reported to the parliament.

Sujau, a council representative and former Vice President of the LGA Board, is a member of Maldives Development Alliance (MDA). MDA is part of the government coalition.

The LGA Board consists of member appointed by the President, Defence Minister Nazim; member appointed by Male’ City Council, Samau Shareef; four members elected from atoll councils; member elected by the parliament, Amir Ali; one member elected from members of the public; and one member elected from city councils.