Saud the only winner among 12 reinstated MPs

All 12 lawmakers who were deposed for floor-crossing but later reinstated to the Parliament had run for re-election in the parliamentary elections held last Saturday. However, none of them managed to secure their seats save for Vilingili MP Saud Hussain.

With interim results out on majority of the ballot boxes kept for the Vilingili Constituency, Saud can now be sure of his re-election.

Initial projections place Saud on top by only a slight margin, closely followed by MDP’s candidate, Haaroon Rasheed.

Interim results place Dhangethi MP Ilham Ahmed, who had run for the Ungoofaaru seat at third place. Well behind the winner, MDP candidate Mohamed Waheed.

Abdulla Sinan lost his bid for re-election as the MP for South Machangolhi Constituency to MDP candidate, Ahmed Haitham – a newcomer.

Four candidates had run for the Dhidhdhoo Constituency. And current Dhidhdoo MP Abdul Latheef Mohamed performed poorly, and is at the bottom of the list. Interim results place MDP candidate Abdulla Waheed as the winner.

Hassan Shahudhy placed second in the race for the Hanimaadhoo seat, behind the winner – MDP candidate Abdul Gafoor Moosa.

Four candidates competed for the Ihavandhoo seat. Current Ihavandhoo MP Mohamed Abdulla (Muhamma) placed third. The projected winner of the constituency is MDP candidate Mohamed Shifau.

North Thinadhoo MP Saud Hilmy and South Thinadhoo MP Abdulla Ahmed also suffered defeat in their bid for re-election. Interim results place MDP candidate Abdul Mughni as the winner of the North Thinadhoo Constituency and MDP candidate Abdulla Saneef as the winner of the South Thinadhoo Constituency.

Thimarafushi MP Mohamed Musthafa lost his bid for re-election to JP candidate Abdulla Riyaz – who is currently the Kinbidhoo MP and the leader of JP’s parliamentary group.

Nortn Fuvahmulah MP Ali Shah lost his bid for re-election to MDP candidate Mohamed Rasheed.

Thulusdhoo MP Mohamed Waheed (Lawyer Wadde) placed third in the parliamentary race for the Thulusdhoo seat. Interim results place independent candidate Ibrahim Naseem as the winner.

The 12 lawmakers had faced a lengthy legal battle lasting nearly one year before the decision to depose them was declared invalid by the Supreme Court in late 2018.