2026 Maldivian local elections

2026 Maldives local elections

←  2021 4 April 2026 2031  →

All local councils and Women’s Development Committees N/A seats needed for a majority

Mayor of Malé before Adam Azim MDP

The 2026 Maldives local elections are scheduled to be held in the Maldives on 4 April 2026. ^[1] Voters will elect members of Island Councils (local councils) and Women's Development Committees (WDCs) across the Maldives.

Background

Local council elections in the Maldives are intended to provide local-level democratic representation at the island, atoll and city levels. The modern framework for local governance has developed since the introduction of local councils in the early 2010s and is governed by legislation and implementing regulations issued by the Elections Commission. Ahead of the 2026 cycle, the ECM carried out awareness programs and administrative preparations, and national-level political debate has included discussion over the powers and funding of island councils. Reports in 2025 noted both preparatory activity by the ECM and criticism from some councils and civil society about the central government's handling of local council authority in the lead-up to the 2026 elections.

Electoral system

Elections will fill seats on Island/Local Councils and Women's Development Committees (WDCs) in constituencies designated by the ECM. For the 2026 schedule the Commission announced elections across 226 constituencies (islands/wards) nationwide.

Malé City Council Election Candidates

• Moosa Ali Jaleel (People’s National Congress): A retired Major General and decorated veteran, Jaleel served as Chief of Defence Force of the Maldives National Defence Force (2008–2012) and as Minister of Defence under President Abdulla Yameen in 2015. Born in Malé in 1960, he played a prominent role in defending the state during the 1988 coup attempt and received top military honors. After retiring from the military, he entered politics: in January 2014 he joined Yameen’s Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) to “serve the public through PPM”. ^[2] In late 2025 Jaleel was confirmed as the sole PNC nominee for Malé mayor (the leading city post) in the April 2026 local council elections. ^[3]

• Ismail Zariyand (People’s National Front): Zariyand is a former national football team goalkeeper and long-serving state auditor (head of the Auditor General’s Office) He has not previously held elected office, but is known for his financial oversight career. In December 2025 he was nominated as the Malé mayoral candidate of the People’s National Front (PNF), a new party led by former President Abdulla Yameen ^[4] Zariyand accepted the nomination stating that Yameen personally asked him to apply his audit experience to “address issues within the Malé City Council”. ^[5]

• Abdullah Mahzoom Majid (Maldives Development Alliance): Abdullah Mahzoom Majid is an LLB-trained lawyer and youth political activist, served as Deputy Minister in the Government of Maldives until he was suspended following India-Maldives conflict among two Deputy Ministers Malsha Shareef and Mariyam Shiuna. ^[6] He was active in political and civic youth movements. Publicly, he gained national attention in 2025 as a Dhuleh Nukuraanan protest leader demanding justice in a high-profile case involving a young woman’s unexplained fall in Malé. He has been arrested and charged in that context, ^[7] though those charges were later dropped. ^[8] Mahzoom is a member of the Maldives Development Alliance (MDA), a registered political party that has participated in national coalitions. He has served in government roles and worked as head of legal and youth leadership positions within MDA’s youth wing.

2026 MDP Primary

• Adam Azim (Maldivian Democratic Party):Adam Azim is the incumbent Mayor of Malé, having won the January 2024 by-election on the MDP ticket. Prior to entering politics, he was a career executive in government companies – notably serving as CEO of the Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC) and Managing Director of the State Trading Organization (STO) Azim was elected Malé Mayor on 22 January 2024 (defeating PNC candidate Azima Shakoor) after President Muizzu resigned the mayoralty. He quickly gained a reputation as a hands-on administrator, for example installing new pumps and clearing storm drains to reduce flooding in the city. In late 2025 Azim formally launched his campaign to win a second term in the April 2026 council elections. ^[9] During the 2026 MDP primary campaign he vowed to run a clean, issue-focused race without personal attacks, saying he would “lead with existing problems, discuss solutions, and win elections in light of solving those problems”. ^[10]

• Ali Azim (Maldivian Democratic Party): Ali Azim is a veteran MDP leader and former Member of Parliament (Central Henveiru constituency) who served three consecutive terms in the People’s Majlis. He held senior MDP positions (including parliamentary group leader) and was closely allied with former President Mohamed Nasheed. In 2023, Ali Azim helped form a breakaway party (“The Democrats”) aligned with Nasheed, and was expelled from MDP for party indiscipline. He rejoined MDP in January 2025 when the party reinstated expelled members. In late 2025 he entered the Malé mayoral race as an MDP candidate, challenging incumbent Adam Azim for the party ticket. ^[11] He has sharply criticized Mayor Adam Azim for allegedly covering up past corruption (such as unexplained land deals during the Muizzu's term) and frames his own candidacy as ensuring an “equitable Malé” run on MDP principles of accountability and transparency. ^[12]

References

1. Thaufeeq, Shazma (4 December 2025). "EC announces local council elections in April 4th next year". Mihaaru . Retrieved 4 December 2025.
2. "Former defence chief and two MPs among high-profile switches to pro-government parties". Maldives Independent . 15 January 2014. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
3. "Moosa Ali Jaleel confirmed as PNC candidate for Malé mayor". Atoll Times . 17 December 2025. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
4. "Ismail Zariyand named PNF candidate for Malé mayor". Atoll Times . 17 December 2025. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
5. "Zariyand says Malé mayoral bid will stay within law and council powers". Atoll Times . 17 December 2025. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
6. "Indian tourists vow to #BoycottMaldives after ministers call Modi a 'clown', 'puppet of Israel'". South China Morning Post . 9 January 2024. Retrieved 12 January 2026.
7. "Charges filed against two youth protest leaders in Yumn Rasheed case". Atoll Times . 3 July 2025. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
8. "ޢަބްދުﷲ މަޙްޒޫމް މާޖިދާއި، ޢާއިޝަތު ޝިމަން އަޙްމަދުގެ މައްޗަށް ކޮށްފައިވާ ދަޢުވާތައް ކުރިއަށް ނުގެންދިއުމަށް ނިންމުން". Prosecutor General of the Maldives (in Divehi). 25 November 2025. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
9. "Azim commences campaign as he vies for second mayoral term". SSTV . 5 November 2025. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
10. "Adam Azim says he will win MDP primary without 'eating flesh and bones'". SSTV . 11 December 2025. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
11. "Adam Azim, Ali Azim vie for MDP ticket in Malé mayoral election". Atoll Times . 5 November 2025. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
12. "Adam has no MDP values, covers up Muizzu's graft: Ali Azim". Atoll Times . 21 November 2025. Retrieved 8 January 2026.