Falah dismisses rumours of PNC‑backed independents as party focuses solely on its ticketed candidates

PNC Parliamentary Group Leader and Inguraidhoo MP Ibrahim Falah says the ruling party will not support any independent candidate in the upcoming local council and women’s development committee (WDC) elections, stressing that the party’s focus is solely on candidates running on the PNC ticket.

Speaking at the opening of the party’s Maafannu campaign office on Monday evening, Falah said rumours circulating in some islands, suggesting that certain independent candidates are backed by the government, are false.

He said PNC supporters and the public should be clear that the party only supports candidates who have been formally issued tickets.

According to Falah, some independent candidates believe they can win on their own and later secure personal advantages by joining a party, but the PNC’s priority is to ensure victory for its official candidates.

“For our Honourable President, it is important for this party today to win the election for the candidates contesting on the ticket of this party,” Falah said.

ކޮންގްރެސް ޕާޓީގެ މާފަންނު ކެމްޕެއިން އިފްތިތާޙް ކުރުމުގެ ޙަފްލާ#LCE2026 #VotePNC #Vote4MoosaJaleel#MoosaJaleel4Mayor #DhiveheengeRaajje #CongressPartyMV
https://t.co/4M7UGkqwTt

— PNC Secretariat (@pnc_secretariat) February 16, 2026

His remarks come amid speculation surrounding Abdul Kareem Abdullah, the younger brother of PNC Chairman and Parliament Speaker Abdul Raheem Abdullah, who is contesting for the Lh. Fonadhoo Council presidency as an independent candidate.

Abdul Kareem, who is blind, told Sun he is contesting to send a message that people with disabilities in the Maldives should not be left behind. He also said two of his children were dismissed from government jobs after he announced his candidacy.

Speculation about PNC‑backed independents has also grown because six independently elected MPs joined the PNC after the last parliamentary elections. Parliament has since passed an amendment that allows MPs to lose their seats if they switch parties or are expelled.