Hithadhoo North by‑-election to be held on June 6 after Supreme Court vacates Sinaan’s seat

The Election Commission (EC) has scheduled the by‑election for the Hithadhoo North constituency for June 6, following the Supreme Court’s ruling that PNC MP Mohamed Sinan has lost his parliamentary seat.

The Supreme Court delivered its judgment on Sunday, marking the first case before the apex court concerning the loss of a seat in the 20th Parliament. Under the Parliamentary Elections Act, a seat must be declared vacant within five days of such a ruling, and a by‑election must be held within 60 days.

In an announcement on Monday, the EC said polling for the Hithadhoo North by‑election will take place on June 6. Complaints can be submitted from the start of polling until provisional results are announced. On polling day, grievances may be filed directly with the polling station manager or submitted to the EC via email using the designated complaint form.

Sinan was found to have lost his seat after the Supreme Court ruled that he had an outstanding debt of MVR 3.8 million owed to the Maldives Islamic Bank, taken jointly with Ahmed Waheed and Mohamed Saleem. The petitioner argued that Sinan had forfeited a constitutional condition of membership by failing to settle the debt.

The case was heard by a five‑judge bench chaired by Justice Aisha Shujoon Mohamed, with Justices Ali Rasheed Hussain, Dr Mohamed Ibrahim, Hussain Shaheed, and Mohamed Saleem. Shaheed and Saleem are the two justices appointed during the current administration. All five judges unanimously held that the debt was proven and that Sinan’s seat had been vacated.

The ruling PNC holds a supermajority with 75 seats in the 20th Parliament, while the opposition MDP has 12 members and now has an opportunity to contest for an additional seat.

Sinan’s seat became vacant after the April 4 local council and WDC elections, polls widely viewed as a test of public support for the government, in which the PNC suffered significant losses across all three ballots.

The EC has also announced that second‑round voting in five constituencies will take place next Saturday.

Former Addu City Mayor Abdulla Sodhiq (Sobe) has already expressed interest in contesting the Hithadhoo North seat. Former President Mohamed Nasheed publicly welcomed his decision, calling it “good news.”