President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has nominated Riffath Abdulla, the former legal of the Elections Commission (EC), as his top pick for appointment as a member of the commission over Dr. Mohamed Zahir, who has applied for a second term.
Applications for membership at the EC opened with Zahir’s current term set to expire soon.
President Muizzu submitted a shortlist of five candidates, including Zahir, to the Parliament on January 29.
However, the list, which is ranked based on President Muizzu’s preference, places Riffath in the top spot, and Zahir in the third.
Other candidates nominated to the EC are:
Aminath Shadhiya
Mohamed Aneel
Mohamed Aslam
Riffath had previously worked at the EC as the head of its legal department. However, it is unclear for how long he worked in the role.
Zahir was appointed to the EC in 2021. His current term is set to expire on February 21.
Back in November 2024, the Parliament’s Independent Institutions Committee – which the ruling People’s National Congress (PNC) holds a supermajority in - had passed a no-confidence motion against Zahir.
The motions against him and two other commissioners followed allegations of involvement in misusing the commission’s database to create and sell fake party membership applications, working to win elections for a specific party, and working to prevent a party from meeting the 3,000-membership requirement.
But when the matter was put to a floor vote, Zahir survived the vote while the commission’s then deputy chairperson Ali Nashath and member Mohamed Asif - who faced the same allegations – were dismissed.