The President’s Office has reopened applications for the vacant civil society representative seat on the Local Government Authority (LGA) Board, setting a submission deadline of November 18.
The opportunity follows a vacancy on the governing body, with application forms now accessible through the official President’s Office website. Eligible candidates must deliver completed forms to the President’s Office between 8:30 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. on official working days ahead of the November 18 deadline.
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The move follows the recent reconstitution of the board’s elected seats under the Decentralisation Act, which mandates three elected representatives: one from city councils, one from island councils, and one from Women’s Development Committees (WDC). Kulhudhuffushi City Mayor Mohamed Athif secured the city council seat unopposed, while voting took place on October 31, 2026, across 19 nationwide polling stations to decide the remaining positions among 807 eligible voters.
The ruling People’s National Congress (PNC) swept both contested seats in the October 31 vote, defeating candidates backed by the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP). For the island council representative seat, Faafu Nilandhoo Council President Ali Ahmed (PNC) defeated Noonu Manadhoo Council President Ali Zafir (MDP) by 312 votes to 229.
In the WDC race, Shaviyani Funadhoo WDC President Maryam Zeena (PNC) won the seat with 79 votes over Laamu Gan WDC President Maryam Neena (MDP), who garnered 53 votes.
Tasked with overseeing local councils and reinforcing the country’s decentralised governance framework, the LGA operates under a board composed of state officials, elected local council and WDC delegates, and designated civil society representatives.
