MDP withdraws ticket, calls primary for Hanimaadhoo council post
The party had earlier secured the ticket for Abdul Sattar Hassan, who currently serves as president of the Hanimaadhoo council.
The Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has decided to hold a primary election to select its candidate for the post of president of the HDh. Hanimaadhoo council in the upcoming local council elections, after withdrawing the party ticket previously awarded to the incumbent.
The party had earlier secured the ticket for Abdul Sattar Hassan, who currently serves as president of the Hanimaadhoo council. The MDP informed him in writing of the ticket award but later decided to conduct a primary to select a candidate for the post.
The party cited the existence of a case involving Abdul Sattar Hassan at the Prosecutor General’s Office as the reason for revisiting the decision.
Abdul Sattar Hassan filed a complaint with the MDP Complaints Committee. A copy of the committee’s response letter, obtained by Daur, was sent to him last Wednesday.
The response, signed by the chair of the Complaints Committee and MDP spokesperson Anas Abdul Sattar, stated that candidates are selected based on rules approved by the party’s National Assembly. The letter said the rules are intended to ensure that nominations are made in the interests of both the party and the constituency.
According to the letter, when issues arise in constituencies, the committee assesses the interests of the constituency and the party, including electoral prospects. It noted that although the Prosecutor General’s Office had issued a clearance on 31 December 2025 regarding Abdul Sattar Hassan’s criminal record, the committee proceeded in line with the approved rules.
The committee said it considered the interests of Hanimaadhoo and the party and decided to hold a primary, allowing Abdul Sattar Hassan to contest. The winning candidate would receive the party ticket.
Commenting on the matter, Abdul Sattar Hassan told Daur that the withdrawal of the ticket was unfair and intended to favour another individual. He said that until a court issues a ruling, a person should be regarded as innocent, adding that the presence of a case at the Prosecutor General’s Office does not amount to a conviction.
Abdul Sattar Hassan has stated his intention to seek a second term as council president.
Hanimaadhoo is the capital of the constituency represented by interim MDP chair Abdul Gafoor Musa.
In the MDP’s announcement for the council elections issued last August, the eligibility requirements included party membership and compliance with legal candidate criteria. The presence of a case at the Prosecutor General’s Office does not disqualify a person from contesting an election.
