News Desk
The ruling People’s National Congress has decided to remove Ahmed Nazim from his post as Deputy Speaker of the People’s Majlis, with the party’s parliamentary group collecting the signatures needed to file a no-confidence motion against him.
The PNC holds 76 of the 93 seats in parliament, giving it a commanding majority. Under the rules of the Majlis, removing the Deputy Speaker requires a simple majority of members present and voting, a threshold the PNC can clear on its own.
The parliamentary group met on Wednesday morning and formally approved the process. Members confirmed to local media that the required signatures have been obtained. If a motion is filed, Nazim has 14 days to respond. The matter is unlikely to be heard before the current parliamentary term ends, meaning it will carry over into the new term.
The move follows a series of signals that Nazim’s relationship with the party leadership had broken down. He was removed from the PNC’s parliamentary WhatsApp group on Wednesday morning, a group administered by President and PNC leader Dr Mohamed Muizzu. He had already been taken off two of the most powerful committees in the House. Party members had privately asked him to resign.
Nazim was elected Deputy Speaker on 28 May 2024 with 80 votes, defeating MDP MP who received 12. It is not the first time he has lost the post. He was removed as Deputy Speaker during the 17th Parliament as well.
Speaker Abdul Raheem Abdullah is currently abroad and is expected to return on Thursday, which was originally scheduled to be the final sitting of the term. The session on Wednesday had to be adjourned twice after members failed to show up in sufficient numbers to meet quorum — with Nazim himself presiding in the Speaker’s absence.
Nazim could not be reached for comment.
PNC’s Ahmed Nazim Removed from Party WhatsApp Group as Parliament Fails Quorum Twice
