PNC Secures All Three WDC Seats in Additional Election Rounds

People’s National Congress (PNC) secured three seats in the additional round of voting held yesterday for Women’s Development Committees (WDC).

The Elections Commission of Maldives (ECM) held additional rounds of voting for local councils and WDCs yesterday to decide five constituencies where candidates received an equal number of votes in the first round held on 4 April. The additional rounds covered three WDC seats and two local council seats.

In the WDC elections, PNC candidates won all three seats. In Haa Alifu Atoll, Kelaa, Hawwa Fazuna was elected WDC president with 578 votes, or 52.26 percent, defeating Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) candidate Mahdhiyaa Adam, who received 528 votes. A total of 1,106 valid votes were cast out of 1,724 eligible voters, with 19 void ballots, reflecting a turnout of 63 percent.

In Haa Dhaalu Atoll, Neykurendhoo, PNC candidate Fathimath Riuza won a WDC member seat with 362 votes, or 60.94 percent, while independent candidate Fathimath Nishadha secured 232 votes. The election recorded 594 valid votes out of 1,054 eligible voters, with 10 void ballots, resulting in a turnout of 57.31 percent.

In Laamu Atoll, Maavah, PNC candidate Fathimath Shafia secured the seat with 563 votes, or 50.81 percent, narrowly defeating MDP candidate Mariyam Maisha, who received 545 votes. A total of 1,108 valid votes were cast out of 1,557 eligible voters, with 16 void ballots. Turnout in the constituency stood at 72 percent.

For the local council elections, one seat was won by an MDP candidate and the other by an independent candidate. In the women’s seat for Baa Atoll Donfanu Council, MDP candidate Aminath Rafah won with 203 votes, or 55.01 percent, defeating PNC candidate Aishath Muna, who secured 166 votes. The election saw 369 valid votes cast out of 448 eligible voters, with six void ballots, marking a turnout of 83.17 percent.

In the women’s seat for the Fuvahmulah City, Dadimagu constituency, independent candidate Sheeza Ibrahim won with 595 votes, or 51.43 percent, while PNC candidate Aishath Abdul Gadir received 562 votes. A total of 1,157 valid votes were cast out of 1,308 eligible voters, with four void ballots, resulting in a turnout of 88.76 percent, the highest among the constituencies.

A total of 14 ballot boxes were placed for the additional rounds across the participating constituencies and in Malé. Two boxes each were allocated to Kelaa, Maavah and the Dadimagu ward of Fuvahmulah, while one box each was placed in Neykurendhoo and Donfanu.

According to the Elections Commission, 6,093 voters were registered for these ballot boxes. Of these, 1,729 were eligible to vote in Kelaa, 1,056 in Neykurendhoo, 441 in Donfanu, 1,556 in Maavah, and 1,311 in the Fuvahmulah Dadimagu ward.

Voting took place from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM.