The Kendhikulhudhoo council decided today not to revoke a statement as ordered by the Local Government Authority (LGA).
The LGA ordered the Noonu Kendhikulhudhoo council yesterday to retract a statement released to express concern over President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu’s alleged campaigning during an official visit to the island last Thursday.
The LGA ordered the council to formally revoke the statement before 2 pm on Monday.
However, Mohamed Rauf, president of the Kendhikulhudhoo council, said the council's members decided based on legal advice to not revoke the statement. The decision was made because the LGA failed to provide a legal justification, he said.
"We decided not to revoke the statement as told by the LGA because they weren't able to show a legal reason," Rauf said.
Rauf urged the LGA not to issue orders that undermine the power of the decentralization law.
With the parliamentary elections due to take place on April 21, the President was accused of campaigning when he started touring the atolls in a series of official trips last month.
But President's Office Communications Minister Ibrahim Khaleel told Adhadhu at the time that the trips were not intended for campaigning.
