Yameen-backed candidates file candidacy city council by-election

Former Commissioner of Police Hussain Waheed for Male Mayor post and three candidates contesting for the vacant posts of council have filed their nominations with the support of former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom. 

The four candidates have filed their nomination papers independently as Yameen's new political party has not yet been registered.

Hussain Waheed submitted his candidacy form online to the Election Commission(EC) on the previous Tuesday. The remaining three candidates submitted their forms to the EC on this Wednesday.

Hussain Waheed joined the candidates when they went to the EC to submit their nomination papers on Wednesday.

The three candidates running for the city council with Yameen’s backing are:

After submitting his nomination papers, Hussain told reporters at the Election Commission that he has come out with three young candidates to develop the city with their 'young ideas and thinking'.

“Our team came out [for the election] because we aim to change the place [council] according to the wishes of the youth or the majority of the people, change the working environment and also change these places including Male, Hulhumale and VilliMale”.

Hussain, who has been working with the People's National Front (PNF), which was later floated by Yameen, first announced his candidacy for the PPM-PNC primaries.

Given the ability of the candidates, we are sure to win the election easily, he said.

The by-election will be held on the 13th of next month.

The post of Mayor of the city became vacant following the election of the former President. In addition, the remaining three constituency councilors' seats became vacant after they were appointed to political positions in the government of President Muizzu.

Other candidates for the mayoral post are:

The deadline for nominations expires on Wednesday and all of them have already submitted their candidacy forms.