The ruling People’s National Congress (PNC) has denied reports circulating in some media outlets claiming that the party’s leadership has been handed over to Ibrahim Falah, the leader of the party’s parliamentary group. The party’s Secretary General, Muaz Haleem, stated that the stories suggesting Abdulla Riyaz, the party’s chairperson, has been removed from party leadership and the responsibility transferred to Falah are “outright false allegations.”
Some media outlets had reported that Riyaz, who was running the PNC, had been distanced from his responsibilities and that the party leadership had informed all leadership members and administrative staff that Falah had been given the responsibility of running the party. However, responding to these claims, Muaz Haleem said that the power to run the party has not been given to Falah.
These reports emerged after rumors of a strained relationship between President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu and Abdulla Riyaz had been circulating for some time. There had also been talk that Riyaz no longer had a role in PNC’s management. These rumors intensified when Riyaz’s son, Ibrahim Faisal, was dismissed from his position as Tourism Minister.
Dr. Muizzu and Riyaz have reportedly resolved their differences through discussions. Riyaz has been actively praising President Dr. Muizzu’s policies and engaging in various discussions in PNC’s official WhatsApp groups. There were also rumors that Riyaz had been removed from these groups, but this has been proven to be false.
The good relationship between President Dr. Muizzu and Riyaz was evident when the President accepted Riyaz’s invitation to a Taraweeh prayer at the People’s Majlis and attended it. PNC is the party with the largest membership in the Maldives.
