Falaah says more than half of eligible voters cast ballots in PNC primary

More than half of eligible voters participated in the People’s National Congress (PNC) primary to select candidates for the upcoming local council elections, campaign manager and parliamentary group leader Ibrahim Falaah said on Saturday.

Voting took place from 09:00 to 16:00 hrs, with additional time given to voters who were still in queue at closing time.

Speaking to Sun, Falaah said the primary was conducted peacefully across all constituencies.

“It went very peacefully. Over 11,300 people voted, without any island polling stations in Male’ city. That alone would match the turnout of four smaller parties. Only 44 primaries were held. This is an internal record for the PNC,” he said.

Falaah confirmed that more than 50 percent of eligible voters cast their ballots. However, he noted that some members were unable to vote because island ballot boxes were not placed in Male’ city.

He described the overall arrangements as well‑managed and said the party remained united throughout the process.

ލޯކަލް ކައުންސިލްތަކާއި، އ.ތ.މ ކޮމިޓީގެ އިންތިޚާބު 2026 ގައި ކޮންގްރެސް ޕާޓީގެ ޓިކެޓުގައި ވާދަކުރާ ކެންޑިޑޭޓުން ކަނޑައެޅުމާއި ގުޅޭ ޕްރައިމަރީގެ ވޯޓުލުން އައްޑޫ ސިޓީ ހިތަދޫ މޫލެކެޑެ ދާއިރާގައި ފެށިގެން ކުރިޔަށް ދަނީ.

LCE2026#
CongressgeNimmun#
DhiveheengeRaajje#
CongressPartyMV pic.twitter.com/Bgj17C1gfJ

— PNC Secretariat (@pnc_secretariat) December 27, 2025

Provisional results were expected on Saturday evening, with vote counting continuing until Sunday evening when final results will be announced.

According to the party’s candidate list, 183 out of 308 candidates are contesting for council seats, while 121 candidates are running for women’s development committees.

The mayoral primary was held only for the Addu City ticket, which was contested by Dr. Ahmed Adeel Naseer and Mushrif Ali. After Adeel withdrew, Mushrif secured the ticket.

The PNC currently has 68,665 members, making it the largest party in the Maldives. Falaah said the membership count will soon reach 73,000.

The opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), the second largest party, has announced 154 candidates for its primary, scheduled for January 16.

Local council elections will be held on April 4, 2026.