Govt fails to secure any mayoral seats as MDP sweeps victory in five cities

Preliminary results in the Local Council Election show that the government failed to secure any mayoral seats, as the MDP sweeps victory in five Maldivian cities as incumbent mayors representing the main opposition party are reelected.

Maldivians voted on Saturday in the local council elections, the women’s development committee (WDC) elections, as well as a referendum on merging the presidential and parliamentary elections.

Voting began at 8:00am, and polling stations stopped admitting voters to the queue at 17:00pm. Counting of ballots is now in progress.

A total of 14 candidates are contesting in the mayoral race in Male’ City, Addu City, Fuvahmulah City, Kulhudhuffushi City and Thinadhoo City.

Preliminary results received by Sun shows that incumbent mayors of the five cities representing main opposition MDP are leading the polls.

Male’ City

Ahmed Aiham Mohamed (Independent) – 3.5 percent of votes

Ismail Zariyandh (Independent) – 22.8 percent of votes

Adam Azim (MDP) – 44.2 percent of votes

Moosa Ali Jaleel (PNC) – 28.4 percent of votes

Abdulla Mahzoom Majidh (MDA) – 1.2 percent of votes 

Addu City

Mohamed Ahsam (Independent) – 3.1 percent of votes

Mushrif Ali (PNC) – 34.5 percent of votes

Ali Nizar (MDP) – 62.4 percent of votes 

Fuvahmulah City

Ismail Rafeeg (MDP) – 57.6 percent of votes

Ali Maseeh (PNC) – 42.4 percent of votes

Kulhudhuffushi City Council

Ibrahim Hassan (PNC) – 32.1 percent of votes

Mohamed Athif (MDP) – 67.9 percent of votes 

Thinadhoo City

Mohamed Ajeeb (PNC) – 49.8 percent of votes

Saud Ali (MDP) – 50.2 percent of votes

294,876 people were eligible to vote in the three elections held on Saturday.

Notably, the government faced a major blow in the referendum as well with preliminary results showing majority of voters are against merging the main two elections in the Maldives.