MDP Raises Concerns Over Ballot Counting, Requests Recounts

The Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has raised concerns over counting irregularities in some ballot boxes during Saturday’s nationwide elections and has formally requested a recount from the Elections Commission of Maldives (ECM).

At a press conference yesterday, former Dhidhdoo MP and MDP campaign manager Mohamed Waheed said the party identified issues with two boxes and has approached ECM to have them recounted.

“Regarding those issues, our legal team is currently in discussion with the Elections Commission. We are in the process of submitting a request to recount the boxes of the Central Hulhumalé constituency,” he said.

Preliminary results for Central Hulhumalé show 4,166 eligible voters, with 2,412 ballots cast and 2,010 valid. People’s National Congress (PNC) candidate Ahmed Saneef Haneef leads with 916 votes (45.57 percent), while MDP candidate Safaath Ahmed Zahir has 904 votes (44.98 percent). Independent candidate Adam Asif received 190 votes (9.45 percent).

MDP has also requested a recount for box number two in Noonu Atoll, Manadhoo, where preliminary results indicate a tight race. PNC candidates Hussan Nazeed and Aboobakuru Yoosuf lead with 419 (20.91 percent) and 415 votes (20.71 percent) respectively. MDP candidates Ahmed Shaffaz and Ahmed Rimzaad follow closely with 404 (20.16 percent) and 331 votes (16.52 percent). Maldives Development Alliance (MDA) candidates Zalyshan Hassan and Ibrahim Hoodh Siyam trail with 312 (15.57 percent) and 123 votes (6.14 percent).

ހުޅުމާލެ މެދު ދާއިރާގެ ލޮބުވެތި ރައްޔިތުން! ހުޅުމާލެ މެދު ދާއިރާގެ ވަގުތީ ނަތީޖާ އަކީ ސައްހަ ނަތީޖާ އެއް ނޫން ކަން އަޅުގަނޑު ތިޔަ ލޮބުވެތި މެމްބަރުންނަށް ޔަގީން ކަން އަރުވަން.

– މިގޮތުން ވޯޓް ގުނަމުން ދިޔަ ވަގުތު ވެސް ވޯޓްކަރުދާސް ތަކުން ސައްހަ ނޫން ގަޑުތަކަށް ފަރުވާވެ ބަލަމުން…— Safaath Ahmed Zahir (@safaathahmed) April 6, 2026

MDP candidate for Central Hulhumalé, Safaath Ahmed Zahir, said concerns at the polling station include denied recount requests, unsealed ballot boxes for 48 hours, extra votes cast in some boxes, misplacement of ballots, and alterations to provisional results. Citing these irregularities as undermining the election’s validity, she has called for the annulment of the local council election for the constituency.