A motion to remove Dhiggaru MP Ahmed Nazim from the post of Deputy Speaker has been submitted in parliament today. 

The People's Majlis secretariat confirmed that it has received the motion, stating that it will be proceeded in accordance with parliament regulations and the Constitution. 

The decision to remove Nazim was made in a ruling People's National Congress (PNC) parliamentary group meeting yesterday. Following the decision, the party gathered sufficient signatures to submit the motion. 

As per the parliament regulations, a speaker can be removed through a motion submitted with the signatures of at least one-fourth of total number of MPs, which comes to a minimum of 24 MPs. 

In the case of a Deputy Speaker, the regulations state that they can be removed through a majority vote from MPs in attendance. 

While the current parliament has 93 MPs, 76 of them are from ruling PNC. 

Nazim was also removed from the PNC PG Group's WhatsApp group earlier yesterday. 

It is so far unclear what has led to these rifts between Nazim, previously an influential figure in the PNC, and the party leadership. It has been reported that Nazim had been indirectly asked to resign from the post of Deputy Speaker. He has also been removed from two of the most key parliamentary committees. 

Nazim previously said that he had been removed from the committees because he was unable to dedicate sufficient time to committee work due to other commitments. 

Nazim was elected Deputy Speaker, and Abdul Raheem Abdulla as Speaker, of the current 20th People's Majlis on May 28, 2024. 

Nazim's appointment came with 80 votes in favour amongst MPs, while his opponent, MDP's Maradhoo MP Ahmed Didi, received only 12 votes. 

Nazim has previously served as Deputy Speaker in the 17th People's Majlis as well.