President Dr Mohamed Muizzu's nomination of Mohamed Shakeel as President of the Elections Commission (EC) has been referred to Parliament's Independent Institutions Committee.

The nomination follows the restoration of the commission's full five-member composition after Shakeel was appointed as a member of the Elections Commission on 24 June.

The position of commission president became vacant following the resignation of former President and member Mohamed Zahid.

If endorsed by the committee, the nomination will be submitted to the full Parliament for approval. Should he secure the support of a majority of members, Shakeel will assume the post of President of the Elections Commission.

Shakeel previously served as a member of the Elections Commission from 2014 to 2018 and also held the position of Director General of the commission before joining as a commissioner.

Most recently, he served as the Managing Director of the Maldives Hajj Corporation.