The former Villimalé MP Ahmed Nihan has been appointed as the Advisor to the Leader of Jumhooree Party, Qasim Ibrahim.
According to the Jumhooree Party, he is now a member of the party’s council.
Nihan was the parliament’s majority leader during former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayyoom’s administration; he was the deputy leader of the now-opposition Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) at that time.
He joined the Jumhooree Party in 2019 after the presidential election. The Jumhooree Party is part of the ruling coalition.
Congratulations Hon. Ahmed Nihan Hussain Manik on your appointment as the Advisor to the Leader of Jumhooree Party Hon. Qasim Ibrahim pic.twitter.com/PLJTFh0WGD— JP Secretariat (@JPSecretariat) February 10, 2023
Nihan has been out of the public eye for a while; he was not seen recently in Jumhooree Party activities either. Nihan’s appointment as the party leader’s advisor comes at a crucial time as the party prepares for the upcoming presidential election slated for September 9.
Nihan has several graft allegations against him in the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) corruption scandal. The state has even levied multiple charges against him in relation to the scandal, including bribery and money laundering.
The veteran lawmaker served two consecutive terms in the parliament, from 2009–2014 and from 2014–2019, representing Vilimalé.