MP Azaan Urges Residents to Oppose Splitting Addu City Council Ahead of Referendum
Central Hithadhoo MP Ahmed Azaan | Photo: People’s Majlis
Ahmed Azaan Marzooq , the MP for Central Hithadhoo, has called on residents of Addu to vote against the formation of separate island councils in the upcoming referendum scheduled for 25 October. The cabinet approved the vote on 5 October, citing concerns raised by the public about governance in Addu City.
In a post on X, Azaan argued that Addu’s political strength lies in its size, noting that it is the second most populous area in the Maldives after Malé. He said this collective strength could be undermined if the current Addu City Council is divided.
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“Creating separate councils and dividing the current Addu City Council is a major opportunity to strip us of this power and politically disadvantage the people of Addu overall,” he wrote in the Addu dialect. He urged residents to remain united to preserve their influence at national level.
މިރާއްޖޭ ސިޔާސީ މައިދާނެ، އައްޑޫއަށް ނިސްބަތްވޭ ސިޔާސީ މީހުންނަށް އޮތް އެންމެ ބޮޑޮ ބާރަވެރިކަމަކީ، އަދި އައްޑޫ ރައްޔިތުންނަށް އޮތް އެންމެ ބޮޑޮ ބާރަވެރިކަމަކީ، މާލެ ފިޔަވައި ރާއްދޭ ދެވަނާއް އެންމެ ބޮޑޮ އާބާދީގެ ގޮތެއް އެއް އަޑަކުން އަޑަ އިއްވުމުގެ ފުރުސަތު އޮތުން. ވަކި ވަކި…— Ahmed Azaan (@axanner) October 11, 2025
The government has said the referendum was prompted by administrative challenges in Addu, particularly in Hithadhoo. According to officials, long-standing governance arrangements there have created difficulties for residents in other wards.
Azaan acknowledged those concerns but argued that reform should come through consolidating Addu City and strengthening its administrative structures, rather than breaking it apart.
President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has said the government has not taken a firm position on the proposal and will follow the outcome of the public vote. He is expected to visit Addu in the lead-up to the referendum.
Although the president has stayed neutral publicly, most PNC parliamentarians and government officials have spoken in favour of dividing Addu City, while Azaan is the only government-aligned MP to openly oppose the proposal. This is not the first time he has diverged from the government’s position; Azaan has previously spoken against certain government decisions in parliament despite belonging to the ruling party.
