Dhiggaru MP Ahmed Nazim, who recently stepped down as Deputy Speaker of Parliament due to a no-confidence motion, has been ousted from his role as president of the ruling People’s National Congress (PNC) for the Dhiggaru constituency.

Tensions regarding Nazim heightened swiftly following the submission of a motion for his removal as Deputy Speaker, which was supported by signatures from every PNC parliamentary member. While the PNC has not openly revealed the exact reasons for the decision, Nazim stepped down from the position as the issue was nearing a floor vote.

After his resignation from the parliamentary leadership, PNC, on June 2nd, chose to dismiss him from his leadership position in the party’s Dhiggaru constituency. Sources have informed Sun that President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, who led the PNC Senate gathering on Tuesday, disclosed the decision. Nonetheless, the specific reasons for the termination have not been revealed.

When Sun reached out for a comment, PNC spokesperson Mohamed Firzul Abdulla Khaleel stated that these decisions are usually revealed via the party’s official channels. Regardless, PNC has not officially announced Nazim’s dismissal from the constituency presidency and has refused to provide additional remarks on the issue.

The no-confidence motion filed against Nazim in Parliament on May 14th, endorsed by PNC legislators, charged Nazim with misuse of his authority to exert improper influence, fostering division, and trying to disrupt the stability of Parliament. Nonetheless, the motion did not include specific evidence backing these claims.

After Nazim’s resignation, the PNC chose Ahmed Saleem (Redwave Saleem), an experienced legislator from the Eydhafushi constituency, as the new Deputy Speaker in a session conducted on June 1st.

Former president Mohamed Nasheed has claimed that the PNC took action against Nazim due to his alleged coordination with 23 other legislators to propose an impeachment motion against President Muizzu. PNC has strongly refuted these allegations, asserting that its parliamentary faction stays united in backing the government.

Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, the former president, has indicated that a segment of the PNC might be getting ready to split off and challenge the current administration. Comparable assertions have been reiterated by the political coalition consisting of former president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayyoom and two ex-leaders of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP). Nasheed has consistently implied that the existing government may be toppled before the year's end, a notion recently reiterated by Solih.

Internal conflicts within the PNC also emerged during the election of Saleem as Deputy Speaker, with claims that certain PNC legislators might have cast their votes for the MDP candidate.

Out of 74 lawmakers who voted, Saleem received 62 votes. MDP’s candidate for Vaikaradhoo MP, Hussain Ziyad, secured 10 votes, while two votes were marked as invalid. Since only eight MDP members attended the meeting, and there were no representatives from the Jumhooree Party, Maldives National Party, or Maldives Development Alliance, it seems that at least two members who are not from the MDP voted for Ziyad. The two invalid votes have heightened speculation among lawmakers, although the PNC has remained silent on the issue.