PPM and MDP win by-elections

Progressive Party of the Maldives (PPM) candidate Ibrahim Maheesh has won the by-election conducted today to elect a new Councilor for the vacant seat at R. Atoll Council. The vacant seat was that of R. Alifushi.

The seat was contested by four candidates representing four of the largest parties in the country, namely PPM, the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), Jumhoory Party (JP) and Divehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP).

Initial results announced tonight by the Elections Commission show that Maheesh won the seat with 883 votes, constituting 44.39 per cent of the total voters.

Maheesh was closely followed by Moomina Easafulhu, the MDP candidate, who won 827 votes, constituting 41.58 per cent. DRP candidate Abdullah Shinan won 274 votes, while JP candidate Nasif Abdullah won only 5. 2025 of the eligible voters voted, while 36 were declared spoilt votes.

The second by-election held today to elect a new Councilor for the vacant seat at M. Raimmandhoo was won by Mohammed Ramiz, who belongs to MDP. He won 75 votes, constituting 53.96 per cent of the voters, while DRP candidate Fathimath Liusha got 64 votes, which is 46.01 per cent of the total votes.