Breaking news … No decision made on disqualifying councilmembers to be on primary ballot

A special city council meeting was held Friday at noon to determine whether to disqualify Councilmembers Abu Musa and Muhith Mahmood from the August primary election for allegedly being non-residents.

By Charles Sercombe
In a sometimes rowdy and explosive special city council meeting on Friday at noon to decide whether to disqualify Councilmembers Abu Musa and Muhith Mahmood from the primary election, no decision was reached.
And that’s because there were not enough councilmembers who attended to legally make a decision.
Instead, the meeting was called a “study session” in which the topic could be discussed and the public allowed to speak, but no decision could be made.
The decision may therefore be left up to City Clerk Rana Faraj – or maybe not.
City Attorney Odey Meroueh said there was a deadline to inform Wayne County election officials by 4 p.m., Friday, April 2025,who would be on the August ballot.
But Faraj said there might be some wiggle room to delay the decision, in order for the city council decide on what to do. Later in the day, City Manager Max Garbarino said that, at this point, the city will wait for a decision until the next scheduled council meeting on May 13 – unless the county objects.
So, to be clear, no decision has been made yet.
Councilmember Musa and Muhith are accused of being non-residents of the city after a private investigator did a background check on them.
Unlike in previous years, the city hired an investigator to perform background checks on all candidates who filed to be on the August primary election ballot after years of accusations that some candidates and elected officials are not residents.
Musa is seeking another term on council, and Mahmood, who is in his first term, is attempting to take a step up the ladder and run for mayor.
Mayor Amer Ghalib, who is also in his first term, is not seeking re-election, in hopes of being confirmed by the U.S. Senate as the next ambassador to Kuwait.
Both Musa and Mahmood vehemently denied that they were not residents.
The private investigator said Musa lives in Warren, and Mahmood lives in Troy.
Both became animated when it came time for them to comment, pounding the table while denying the accusations.
Mahmood said the accusation has “humiliated” him, and that “I feel insulted.”
“Stop doing this bullsh-t,” he added.
Musa threatened legal action: “I will see you in court.”
During the one-and-a half-hour meeting, supporters of Musa and Mahmood often interrupted the proceedings with their objections and demand for evidence, with one participant being escorted out by police officers for acting up.
Others, like Hassan Aoun, of Dearborn, warned of legal action.
“You guys put yourself in a big lawsuit,” said Aoun.
Mayor Amer Ghalib said he predicts that, if it does come down to a council vote, that would go in favor of allowing Musa and Mahmood remain on the ballot.
And if that’s the case, it would take a resident — or anyone else, for that matter — to challenge that decision in Wayne County Circuit Court.
Posted April 25, 2025