The Elections Commission of Maldives (ECM) has announced the official results of the Malé City Council by-elections held on Saturday. The by-elections were held to fill the vacant seats of Malé City mayor and three additional council members.
Adam Azim, representing the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), clinched the mayor’s seat with a substantial lead over the candidate from the ruling People’s National Congress (PNC), former Attorney General Aishath Azima Shakoor. As per the official results released by the ECM, Azim amassed 7,721 votes, constituting 44.81 percent of the total, surpassing Shakoor’s tally of 5,031 votes, which accounted for 29.58 percent.
The election witnessed a turnout of 17,008 voters, representing 31.48 percent of eligible voters. The ECM reported that 402 ballots were invalidated. The total electorate for the election was enumerated at 54,680.
Three other candidates contended for the mayor’s position: Mohamed Saif Fathih from the Democrats, who secured 2,343 votes (13.78 percent); independent candidate Hussain Waheed, who garnered 1,188 votes (11.80 percent); and another independent candidate, Shuaib Ali, who received 125 votes (0.73 percent). Waheed was endorsed by former President Abdul Yameen Abdul Gayoom.
In the by-elections for three vacancies in the city council, the ruling PNC won two seats, with Aminath Rishfa securing the South Henveiru seat and Hassan Nizam taking the South Maafannu seat, while the MDP’s candidate Ahmed Rishwan won the seat for Central Henveiru.
