The main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has rescheduled its primary polls for next year’s local council elections to 16 January 2026.
The party said voting will take place from 14:30 to 20:00. The MDP had earlier announced on 18 December that the primaries would be held on 30 January. The party cancelled that plan on Sunday and brought the date forward.
The change follows the timeline set by the Elections Commission. The commission is expected to open nominations for council candidates 14 days from 17 January. Parties are required to complete primaries before nominations open.
A total of 646 councillors, including mayors and council presidents, will be elected at the local council polls. This marks a reduction of 336 seats compared with the 2021 local council elections.
The MDP has yet to disclose how many constituencies will hold primaries.
According to the commission’s interim constituency report, 133 island councils will each elect three members. These include a council president, one female member and one additional member.
In 46 islands, five councillors will be elected. These councils will consist of a president, two female councillors and two additional councillors.
The report also outlines the number of city councillors and constituencies in the country’s five cities, alongside the mayoral posts.
The local council elections are scheduled for 28 March. The vote carries weight for both the MDP and the ruling People’s National Congress (PNC) as they seek to strengthen their presence at island and city council level.