MDP Primary: Nizar and Isse defeat incumbent Addu, Fuvahmulah mayors

Interim results of Friday’s primary by Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) to select its candidates for the upcoming local council elections show both the incumbent Addu City Mayor Abdulla Sodhiq (Sobe) and the incumbent Fuvahmulah City Mayor Abdulla Falah Shareef to have suffered decisive defeats.

Sobe was defeated by former South Hithadhoo MP Ali Nizar. Sobe has issued a statement conceding his defeat and congratulating Nizar on his victory.

Maruhabaa @DhekunuNizar adhi party Primary gai ticket kashavaru kurevvi emmehaa beyfulhun. Hivvaraai eku @MDPSecretariat ah mi gondithah kaamiyaabu kurumah athukuri olhaalaa masakkah kurumakee Addu ge kurimagah konmehen muhimmu kameh.

— Abdulla Sodiq(Sobe') (@SobeAbdulla) January 31, 2020

Meanwhile, Falah was defeated by newcomer Ibrahim Rafeeq (Isse) with a landslide 1,599 votes. His closest rival, Mohamed Nizam Hassan won 546 votes and Falah won 468 votes.

Sobe and Falah’s defeat follows the defeat of incumbent Male’ City Mayor Shifa Mohamed who lost to MDP Secretary-General Anas Abdul Sattar by approximately 200 votes.

Anas had won 1,025 votes, and Shifa had won 835 votes, while Sarangu Adam Manik, who had served as the city’s first Mayor, placed third with 780 votes.

Local Council Elections will take place in two months, on April 4.