President nominates utility boss to Elections Commission

President Abdulla Yameen has nominated the head of state utility Fenaka Corporation to the Elections Commission. 

Local media reported Sunday that Ahmed Shareef Adam was the only candidate sent for parliamentary approval out of those who applied to the president’s office.

With the nomination on the agenda for Monday and opposition lawmakers boycotting sittings amid the ongoing state of emergency, parliament is likely to endorse Shareef’s appointment to the five-member electoral body this week.

“We don’t support this at all,” said opposition spokesman and MP Imthiyaaz Fahmy. “We are very concerned. He won’t become independent overnight because he’s been appointed to an independent commission. He is currently active in working for the government, he’s a former government-aligned MP and even now he’s an activist.