Former MP Rozaina Adam has criticised MDP mayoral primary contender Ali Azim, saying President Dr Mohamed Muizzu came to power because of those who left the MDP to form The Democrats ahead of the 2023 presidential election.
Speaking at a campaign event for Adam Azim, who is contesting the MDP primary for Male' mayor, Rozaina said it was misleading to claim that the mayor’s role is to hold the government accountable, a key message in Ali Azim’s campaign.
Ali Azim and his supporters, including former MDP chairperson Fayyaz Ismail, argue that the party must elect a candidate who can challenge the government and hold it accountable, insisting that Ali Azim is the only person capable of doing so.
Ali Azim (C), former MDP chairperson Fayyaz Ismail (L) and Mohamed Nasheed (R) at Azim's mayoral campaign rally, December 18, 2025. (Facebook Photo/Hussain Shafiu)
In response, Rozaina cited legal provisions outlining the responsibilities of councillors, saying their duties include consulting, assisting and cooperating with government ministries on development projects. She said the primary role of councils is to deliver services to the public in partnership with the government.
“Hold the government accountable, must run after President Muizzu. No. We are not electing a mayor to run after President Muizzu. We are not electing a mayor to hold the government accountable. The constitution very clearly specifies roles for everyone. The body that holds the government accountable is the parliament,” she said.
Rozaina said councils are accountable to the government because they receive budgets from the state to serve the public, while Parliament is the institution mandated to hold the government accountable.
Criticising Ali Azim and his campaign leaders, she said they were now calling for accountability from President Muizzu despite having “brought him to power” by leaving the MDP in 2023.
Former president Mohamed Nasheed at a campaign event of Ali Azim: Nasheed has spoken out in support of handing over the operations of Hanimaadhoo International Airport to an Indian company. (Photo/Ali Azim campaign team)
“You must recall that President Muizzu is here today because of these people who brought him here. So there is no need to talk about electing a mayor to hold President Muizzu accountable, it is useless,” she said.
Rozaina said Adam Azim’s cooperation with the government had enabled several projects to be carried out for the benefit of Male' residents, despite the city council’s limited budget. She added that he is widely accepted by both MDP members and the broader public.
“We cannot win this election with MDP votes alone. We can win the next election if we give our primary to someone who is accepted by everyone in the city,” she said.
She also said Adam Azim contributes financially and otherwise to the party and is not seeking the position for personal gain.
The MDP primary is scheduled for Friday. The other contender is former Medhu Henveiru MP Ali Azim, who left the MDP and joined The Democrats ahead of the 2023 presidential election.