Fresh election preliminary results: Nasheed 47 percent, Yameen 30 precent

Elections Commission has announced the preliminary results of the first round of the fresh presidential election held on Saturday, 9 November 2013.

At a press conference held early Sunday morning, the commission said that MDP’s presidential candidate Mohamed Nasheed received 96,747 votes (46.93 percent), PPM’s presidential candidate Abdulla Yameen received 61,295 votes (29.73 percent), and JP’s presidential candidate Gasim Ibrahim received 48,131 votes (23.34 percent).

In the annulled first round of the presidential election held on 7 September, Nasheed led with 95,224 votes (45.45 percent), Yameen came in second with 54,099 votes (25.35 percent) and Gasim a close third place with 50,422 votes (24.07 percent). Independent candidate and incumbent president Dr Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik, who later backed out for the re-run, came in fourth with 10,750 votes (5.13 percent).

Fuad said at the press conference Sunday morning that, as no one candidate has secure the 51 percent needed for clear victory, a second round of the election will be held today, Sunday, 10 November.

He said the commission might be forced to push back the start and end times of polling.

He said PPM candidate Yameen Ibrahim is yet to sign the majority of voters’ lists and that it might pose as an obstacle to hold polls today. The candidate has so far endorsed the lists for overseas ballot boxes and some of the lists for Noonu atoll, the EC chief said.

Fuad said PPM has not officially told him whether they intend to sign the voters lists. Fuad said the commission will continue all preparations to hold elections today, until otherwise ordered by the Supreme Court.

Close to sunrise today, Supreme Court ordered the Elections Commission to postpone the second round of the presidential election on Saturday, 16 November 2013. The order states that 16 November, the date set by the Elections Commission earlier prior to bringing the second round forward to 10 November, is an ideal date to hold a run off.