PNC selects Saeed for Hithadhoo North by-election
Former PNC MP Mohamed Sinaan, who won the Hithadhoo North constituency PNC ticket, has decided not to contest the election, the party said on Wednesday.
Top Stories
The PNC has announced that Ahmed Saeed will contest the by-election scheduled for 6 June for the vacant Hithadhoo North parliamentary seat.
Former PNC MP Mohamed Sinaan, who won the Hithadhoo North constituency PNC ticket, has decided not to contest the election, the party said on Wednesday.
Sinaan lost his seat while serving as the PNC’s Hithadhoo North Member of Parliament after non-payment of a debt in line with a judgment by the Hithadhoo Magistrate’s Court.
A petition was filed in the Supreme Court on 13 February last year seeking a declaration that Sinaan had lost his seat for failing to pay MVR 2.5 million of a MVR 3.8 million loan obtained from the Maldives Islamic Bank within six months. Sinaan settled the outstanding amount in full on the same day.
The Supreme Court later declared the seat vacant, ruling that membership is lost where a debt is proven and not paid in line with a court judgment.
PNC Vice President and Fisheries Minister Ahmed Shiyam said at a press conference that Saeed would contest the by-election.
“With the election period open, we do not have time to hold a primary, and with Saeed prepared to proceed, this is the option for the party,” he said.
He said party supporters had also called for Saeed to receive the ticket after contesting the primary.
“We have decided to contest the Hithadhoo North constituency with Saeed,” he said.
Former Addu Mayor Abdullah Sodiq will contest the by-election on the MDP ticket. As no other candidate applied, Sodiq secured the ticket without a primary.
The Elections Commission on Tuesday extended the deadline for nominations for the Hithadhoo North by-election.
The deadline had been set for Thursday. It has now been extended until the 2nd of next month.
