President Muizzu Nominates Mohamed Shakeel to Lead Elections Commission of Maldives

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has nominated Mohamed Shakeel to serve as the President of the Elections Commission of Maldives (ECM), submitting his name to the Parliament for formal approval. The nomination follows the resignation of Mohamed Zahid, which left the leadership position vacant. According to governing laws, a new president can only be appointed once the commission reaches its full five-member complement. Following the Parliament's approval, President Muizzu appointed Shakeel as a commission member on June 24, effectively restoring the body to its full membership and paving the way for this leadership appointment. Shakeel's nomination has been referred to the Parliament's Independent Institutions Committee for initial review. Should the committee endorse the nomination, it will proceed to a full vote in the Majlis. Shakeel will officially assume the presidency if he secures a majority vote from the members of Parliament. Mohamed Shakeel brings extensive institutional experience to the role. He previously served as a member of the Elections Commission from December 2014 to May 2018, having transitioned into that role after serving as the commission's Director General between September 2013 and December 2014. Most recently, he held the position of Managing Director at the Maldives Hajj Corporation. The Elections Commission is currently composed of five members: Vice President Abdul Rahman Salah Rasheed, Hassan Zakariyya, Abdul Haseeb Ismail, Riffath Abdullah, and Mohamed Shakeel.