MDP’s Sodiq Wins North Hithadhoo By-Election by Narrow Margin

MDP candidate Abdulla Sodiq has won the North Hithadhoo parliamentary by-election, securing the seat in a closely contested race against PNC candidate Ahmed Saeed, according to figures released by the Elections Commission of Maldives (ECM).

Sodiq secured 1,375 votes, defeating Saeed, who received 1,313 votes, giving the MDP candidate a margin of 62 votes in the final count.

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The ECM confirmed that Saeed won three out of five ballot boxes in Addu City and one of the two boxes in Malé. However, Sodiq led overall in total votes, overturning Saeed’s box-level advantage to clinch victory. 

Voting in the constituency, held yesterday from 8 am to 4 pm, concluded with a turnout of 62 per cent. A total of 2,563 out of 4,121 registered voters cast their ballots before polls closed at 4:00pm, while 1,558 voters, or 38 per cent, did not participate.

ރައްޔިތުންގެ މަޖިލީހުގެ ހިތަދޫ އުތުރު ދާއިރާގެ ބައި-އިލެކްޝަން 2026 ގައި ވާދަކުރައްވާ ގޮނޑި ކާމިޔާބު ކުރެއްވި އެމްޑީޕީގެ ކެންޑިޑޭޓް ޢަބްދުﷲ ޞާދިޤު (ސޯބެ) @SobeAbdulla އަށް މަރުޙަބާ ދަންނަވަން.

ސޯބެއަށް ވޯޓު ދެެއްވި ހިތަދޫ އުތުރު ދާއިރާގެ ރައްޔިތުންނަށް ވަރަށް އިޚްލާޞްތެރި… pic.twitter.com/z0qJJmpFTt— MDP Secretariat (@MDPSecretariat) June 6, 2026

The North Hithadhoo seat became vacant following a Supreme Court ruling involving former MP Mohamed Sinan, who lost his parliamentary position after failing to settle an outstanding debt in line with a court judgment.

When the 20th Parliament was sworn in, the composition stood at 74 seats for the People’s National Congress (PNC), 12 seats for the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), 2 seats for the Maldives Development Alliance (MDA), 1 seat for the Jumhooree Party (JP), 1 seat for the Maldives National Party (MNP), and 2 Independents. With this result, the PNC loses one seat while the MDP gains one, shifting the parliamentary balance accordingly.