Local Council and Women’s Development Committee (WDC) Elections Campaign

Streets across Malé have been transformed into a sea of campaign colours as candidates intensify their visibility ahead of the upcoming local polls.

With voting day for the 2026 Local Council and Women’s Development Committee Elections scheduled for April 4, campaign posters, banners and party flags have been strung across roads, attached to light poles and tied to nets and fences across the capital.

Candidates contesting for various positions—including the mayor of Malé City, local council seats and Women’s Development Committee (WDC) posts—have filled nearly every available space with campaign materials bearing party symbols, colours and slogans. Scenes like these are common during election periods across the Maldives, with posters and banners appearing in islands nationwide as candidates seek to gain recognition among voters.

According to statistics released by the Elections Commission of the Maldives, a total of 3,413 candidates have applied to contest the elections. Of these, 1,865 (54.64% of total candidates) have applied for council seats, while 1,548 (45.36%) have submitted applications for positions in Women’s Development Committees.

Most candidates are contesting under political party banners. For council seats, 1,366 (40.02% of total candidates) are affiliated with political parties, while 499 (14.62%) are running as independents. In the WDC race, 1,216 (78.55% of total WDC candidates) represent political parties, and 332 (21.45%) are independent contenders.

Several candidates have already secured victory without contest. The ruling People’s National Congress has won 28 local council seats and 41 WDC seats unopposed. Meanwhile, the Maldivian Democratic Party secured one local council seat and five WDC seats uncontested.

In total, PNC currently holds 69 guaranteed positions, compared to six uncontested victories for MDP. The Adhaalath Party has also won two unopposed seats across both WDC and local council categories.

This year’s local council elections carry additional significance, as voters will also decide in a referendum proposed by the government on whether to merge the country’s presidential and parliamentary elections. If approved, the change would see both elections held on the same day rather than six months apart as is currently the case.

The proposal is backed by the ruling People’s National Congress and the Maldivian Development Alliance, which argue that merging the elections would reduce state expenditure and streamline the electoral process.  However, the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party has opposed the move, alleging that the government has ulterior motives for pushing the reform.