MDP's Sodiq wins Hithadhoo North by-election
Sodiq secured victory in Saturday's poll after defeating Ahmed Saeed, who contested on the ticket of the ruling People's National Congress (PNC).
Abdulla Sodiq of the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has won the parliamentary by-election for the vacant Hithadhoo North constituency.
Sodiq defeated Ahmed Saeed, who contested on the ticket of the ruling People's National Congress (PNC), according to provisional results released by the Elections Commission.
The results show Sodiq received 1,375 votes, while Saeed secured 1,313 votes, giving the MDP candidate 51.15 per cent of the vote.
The Hithadhoo North seat became vacant after the Supreme Court ruled that former MP Mohamed Sinan of the PNC had forfeited his seat for failing to settle a debt established through a court judgment.
Although Saeed led in four of the seven ballot boxes, Sodiq secured larger margins in the remaining three boxes to win the election. Saeed won the two ballot boxes placed in Addu City's Hithadhoo School and two of the five boxes in Addu. Sodiq, meanwhile, secured victories in one ballot box in Malé and two ballot boxes in Addu, including the largest margin recorded in the election.
Voting was scheduled to conclude at 4:00 p.m., but the Elections Commission extended polling by one hour until 5:00 p.m.
A total of 2,730 voters cast ballots, representing a turnout of 66.25 per cent of the 4,121 eligible voters.
Sodiq secured the MDP nomination uncontested after no other candidates sought the party ticket.
On the PNC side, Ahmed Saeed entered the race after Mohamed Sinan, who had won the party's primary, decided not to contest the by-election following the loss of his parliamentary seat. The party subsequently nominated Saeed, citing insufficient time to hold another primary.
The result increases the MDP's representation in the People's Majlis and returns the Hithadhoo North seat to the opposition party.
