Elected members must take oaths on Saturday, dictates LGA

The Local Government Authority (LGA) has announced that the council members elected in the local council elections held last month must be sworn in by Saturday night.

City council members elected for the capital, Malé, will take their oaths at Giyasuddin School. Those elected for the Addu City Council are to take their oaths at Sharafuddin School in Hithadhoo district.

Council members elected for Kulhudhuffushi island will take their oaths at the Haa Dhaalu Atoll Education Center.

The Addu City Council told RaajjeMV on Friday that it has made all the necessary preparations for the oathing ceremony.

A total of 422 ballot boxes had been placed across the country and while there were complaints over delays in ballot openings, voting in some polling stations - namely in Maafushi prison - had continued on to the following day.

The opposition Maldivian Democratic Party had acquired all seven seats for the council in Addu City, and all seats except one for Malé City Council.

Along with the Jumhooree Party, the opposition has 325 seats.

The ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM), which had the most candidates contesting, and its coalition partner the Maldives Development Alliance had together acquired 210 seats. Independent candidates had acquired 101 seats while a single candidate from the Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party had acquired a seat as well.

13 candidates that were the sole contestants for seats in their constituencies had been elected prior to the vote.