MDP Raises Concerns Over Tight Deadline for Local Council Election Applications
During a press conference held by MDP’s Local Council Elections campaign team on 25 January | Photo: MDP Secretariat/X
The Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has raised concerns over the short deadline set by the Elections Commission of the Maldives (ECM) for submitting applications to contest the 2026 Local Council and Women’s Development Committee (WDC) elections, warning that it could prevent many prospective candidates from standing.
The party highlighted that the process of clearing records with state authorities and completing other essential formalities requires substantial time. “This timeframe is simply inadequate,” the MDP said, urging the ECM to take swift action to ensure all eligible individuals can exercise their right to contest the elections.
ލޯކަލް ކައުންސިލް އިންތިޚާބަށް ކުރިމަތިލުމަށް އެދި ފޯމު ހުށަހެޅުމަށް @ElectionsMv އިން ދީފައިވަނީ ވަރަށް ކުރު މުއްދަތެއް ކަމަށްވީތީ، ނުހަނު ބޮޑެތި ދަތިތަކާ ކުރިމަތިވަމުން އެބަދެއެވެ.
ދައުލަތުގެ އިދާރާތަކުން ރިކޯޑް ސާފުކުރުމާއި އެހެނިހެން ކަންކަން ފުރިހަމަކުރުމަށް އެތަކެއް…— MDP Secretariat (@MDPSecretariat) January 27, 2026
In a press conference on Sunday, the party had called on the ECM to introduce a manual application process alongside the existing online system. Mohamed Waheed (Waddey), president of the MDP’s Dhidhdhoo constituency, noted that while online submissions are available 24 hours a day, the current deadline makes it difficult for many candidates to complete all necessary requirements on time.
The Local Council and WDC elections are scheduled for 4 April, with applications currently set to close on 1 February at 3:30 p.m.
