The Local Government Authority (LGA) has issued a directive prohibiting local councils from allowing political activities on council property, warning that promoting political ideologies on council-registered land violates national law.
The instruction was delivered via a letter from LGA CEO Mohamed Nimal to city mayors and island council presidents on the opening day of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) congress. The opposition MDP was forced to hold its event—which ran from Thursday to Saturday evening—inside the Male’ City Council hall after failing to secure any alternative venue from government agencies. In contrast, the ruling People’s National Congress (PNC) had been granted access to the Male’ City Youth Centre and three local schools for its own congress, drawing public criticism from the MDP over unequal access.
In the letter, Nimal stated that using council property or resources to advance political agendas contradicts the Decentralization Act. He highlighted that council facilities must remain dedicated solely to official civic duties, arguing that political events in public service hubs risk creating unrest and eroding public trust in council neutrality. Councils have been instructed to immediately cease granting the use of their lands, properties, or assets for political gatherings or party promotion.
