The ruling Progressive National Congress (PNC) has sidelined its chairman and Speaker of Parliament Abdul Raheem Abdulla, handing over the party’s leadership to its parliamentary group leader Ibrahim Falah, a source confirmed Wednesday.
While Abdul Raheem remains the party’s chairman, he has been effectively stripped of his authority, with Falah now overseeing the party’s affairs. The exact reason for this decision remains unclear, and the PNC has yet to issue an official statement.
According to the PNC Constitution, the chairman holds the second-highest position in the party after the president and is responsible for overseeing its operations in line with party policies and guidance from the president.
Falah’s appointment follows tensions between PNC leader and President Mohamed Muizzu and Abdul Raheem. The once-close relationship between the two has deteriorated, particularly after President Muizzu dismissed Abdul Raheem’s son, Ibrahim Faisal, from his post as tourism minister in late January.
At the time, Abdul Raheem remarked that the president would not have taken such a step if their ties had remained strong. Following Faisal’s dismissal, several of Abdul Raheem’s close associates were removed from senior positions in the government and state-owned enterprises.
There has also been speculation that Abdul Raheem could be removed as Speaker, though no official decision has yet been made.