Riza congratulates Shaz despite PPM's bribery accusations

PPM’s candidate Hussain Riza Adam on Sunday congratulated MDP's Ibrahim Shaz, who won Saturday's by-election to the parliament's Guraidhoo constituency despite the opposition's allegation that the ruling party had bribed the people to win the seat.

Riza shared a picture of the two of them standing together in a friendly pose with a tweet congratulating Shaz, who won a K. atoll seat for the first time in MDP’s history.

"My heartiest congratulations to my brother Ibrahim Shaz, who won the election," Riza said.

"I take this opportunity to express my deep gratitude to the people of Guraidhoo, Gulhi and Maafushi for their love. I would like to express my special gratitude to my campaign team and the party leadership."

Some have praised Riza for accepting defeat and are saying that he is a fine example of democracy.

The by-election to Guraidhoo constituency was necessitated after Ibrahim Riza, a PPM MP who was the constituency’s MP for the last three terms, passed away in late February while undergoing treatment for cancer.

Hussain Riza, who contested for the seat on behalf of the party, is the younger brother of former MP Ibrahim Riza.

Provisional results: