Ali Nizar

Ali Nizar is a Maldivian politician who has served as the Mayor of Addu City since 17 May 2021. A member of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), he previously represented the Hithadhoo South constituency in the 18th People's Majlis from 2014 to 2019.

Nizar was elected to Parliament in 2014 with 47.90 percent of the vote. Towards the end of his parliamentary term, he was appointed chief whip of the MDP's parliamentary group.

He won the MDP nomination for mayor in 2020, defeating incumbent mayor Abdulla Sodiq, and was elected mayor in the 2021 local council election. He was re-elected for a second term in the 2026 local council election.

Political career

Member of Parliament

Nizar contested the Hithadhoo South constituency as the MDP candidate in the 2014 parliamentary election. He was elected with 47.90 percent of the vote and became a member of the 18th People's Majlis.

During his parliamentary tenure, Nizar participated in parliamentary and party affairs as a representative of southern Hithadhoo. In November 2018, the MDP appointed him as the chief whip of its parliamentary group. Mohamed Aslam, the representative for Hithadhoo North, was appointed parliamentary group leader at the same time. Both appointments were made without a vote because no other candidates contested the positions.

Nizar's term in Parliament concluded in 2019. He was succeeded as the representative for Hithadhoo South by Ibrahim Nazil.

2020 MDP mayoral primary

Nizar sought the MDP nomination for mayor of Addu City ahead of the 2021 local council election. The party's primary was held on 31 January 2020.

He received 2,801 votes, defeating three-term incumbent mayor Abdulla Sodiq, who received 1,269 votes, and the president of the MDP's Addu branch, Ahmed Adhuham, who received 1,016 votes. Nizar's margin over Sodiq was 1,532 votes.

2021 mayoral election

In the 2021 local council election, Nizar contested the Addu City mayoral position against Progressive Party of Maldives candidate Mohamed Latheef and independent candidate Ibrahim Thohir.

Nizar won the election with approximately 61 percent of the vote. Contemporary preliminary results reported 1,443 votes for Nizar, 1,018 for Latheef and 61 for Thohir.

Nizar was sworn in as mayor on 17 May 2021, succeeding Abdulla Sodiq.

Mayor of Addu City

As mayor, Nizar has advocated for decentralisation and greater authority for local councils. He has argued that the development of the atolls should be determined with the participation of local communities rather than being directed exclusively by the central government in Malé.

In August 2021, Nizar informed President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih that more than 60 Public Sector Investment Programme projects promised for Addu City were underway.

His council cooperated with the national government on projects involving roads, land reclamation, airport development and other infrastructure in Addu.

Nizar also advocated the construction of a bridge connecting Hulhumeedhoo with the western inhabited islands of Addu. In 2021, he said the council intended to present the proposal to President Solih.

In 2025, Nizar stated that Addu City had joined the Strong Cities Network. He was subsequently invited to serve on the network's International Steering Committee. His work with the network focused on community safety, social cohesion, women's participation and cooperation between local and national authorities.

Nizar has also publicly raised concerns about interruptions to electricity services and the selection of contractors for Addu's proposed central power station. In March 2026, he criticised the lack of publicly available information concerning a company awarded the USD 31 million power-station project.

2026 re-election

Nizar was the only person to initially express interest in seeking the MDP nomination for mayor of Addu ahead of the 2026 local council election. The Elections Commission registered him as candidate number three. His registered permanent address was listed as Emtationge in Hithadhoo.

He contested the election against PNC candidate Mushrif Ali and independent candidate Mohamed Ahsam. Nizar was re-elected for a second term on 4 April 2026.

Published results recorded Nizar as receiving 8,775 votes, or approximately 65 percent of the valid mayoral vote. Mushrif Ali received 4,247 votes, or 31.4 percent, while Ahsam received 488 votes, or 3.6 percent.

Following the election, Nizar characterised the MDP's result in Addu as a message concerning the national government's approach to development and local governance.

Political positions

Decentralisation

Nizar supports strengthening the authority of elected councils. He has argued that councils should cooperate with the national government while retaining the ability to determine local development priorities.

Addu development

Nizar has advocated infrastructure development in Addu, including roads, housing, land reclamation, reliable electricity services, airport development and improved transport connections between the city's islands.

Community resilience

Through Addu City's involvement in the Strong Cities Network, Nizar has promoted cooperation among councils, civil-society organisations and national institutions. He has also emphasised the participation of women and young people in local policymaking and community-safety programmes.

Electoral history

Parliamentary elections

Election Constituency Party Vote share Result 2014 parliamentary election Hithadhoo South Maldivian Democratic Party 47.90%

MDP primary elections

Election Candidate Votes Result 2020 MDP Addu mayoral primary Ali Nizar 2,801 Abdulla Sodiq 1,269 Lost Ahmed Adhuham 1,016 Lost

Mayoral elections

Election Candidate Party Votes Percentage Result 2021 local election Ali Nizar Maldivian Democratic Party 1,443 Approximately 61% Mohamed Latheef Progressive Party of Maldives 1,018 — Lost Ibrahim Thohir Independent 61 — Lost 2026 local election Ali Nizar Maldivian Democratic Party 8,775 65.0% Mushrif Ali People's National Congress 4,247 31.4% Lost Mohamed Ahsam Independent 488 3.6% Lost

Ali Nizar

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