Sheikh Mohamed Shifan was elected president of the Adhaalath Party with 99% of the vote in an online election held on Saturday.
The party said 22% of registered members participated in the vote. The total number of eligible voters was not disclosed.
Sheikh Shifan’s only challenger, Ikram Abdul Sattar, received 1% of the vote. Ikram withdrew his nomination last week, but the party decided to proceed with the election.
After the results were announced, Sheikh Shifan thanked members who placed their trust in him and voted in the election.
He said his campaign team visited islands where party members reside and engaged with them directly to hear their concerns. Sheikh Shifan said he would work to guide the party in line with Islamic principles and the nation’s broader interests.
Ikram withdrew from the race, saying the process was moving away from reason towards what he described as a dictatorial system designed to produce a predetermined outcome.
The party earlier said a vote would be held even if only one candidate remained in the race.
Nominations for the party presidency opened last month, with eligibility restricted to members registered at the time. Candidates were required to be Muslim, at least 30 years old, and not convicted of an offence under Islamic Shariah. Other requirements included a minimum of two years’ experience as a member of a party committee, knowledge of party rules, a minimum of a diploma from a state-recognised institution, and three years of practical experience.
The presidency was previously held by Sheikh Imran Abdulla, who led the party for two terms and served as home minister in the most recent Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) government, in which Adhaalath was a coalition partner.