Managing Director at news outlet, Avas Online, Ahmed Naaif has been elected for the vacant seat at Maldives Media Council.

Naaif won the by-election by beating Ahmed Naushad from Noonu Info, by a large margin.

Out of the 85 media outlets registered to vote, Naaif won 63 votes while Naushad fell behind with just nine votes in his favor.

Naaif, who has been working in the field for eight years, worked in Haveeru News alongside Sun Online as well as the first ever private radio station established in the Maldives, Dhi FM.

The election was held on Saturday afternoon, following the term of a council member representing the media having come to an end in early February. RaajjeTV’s News Director Ali Yoosuf’s term had ended on the 5th of February.

Only Naaif and Naushad had applied for membership when the council opened opportunity to apply on the 2nd of February.

The council comprises of eight members from the media and seven representing the public who have a term of two years.

All registered media outlets in the Maldives are eligible to vote in the council election.