PNC candidate for Dh. Meedhoo accused of vote rigging; EC results show Meedhoo resident allegedly cast ballot in L. Fonadhoo box

Allegations have been made against the Elections Commission, accusing the body of rigging the vote to ensure victory for PNC candidate Suha Ibrahim in the election held to select the President of the Dh. Meedhoo Council.

The candidates who contested for the presidency of the Dhaalu Meedhoo Council were Suha Ibrahim representing the People's National Congress (PNC), Mohamed Shahid from the Maldives Development Alliance (MDA), and independent candidate Ibrahim Naseem.

Provisional results for the Meedhoo Council President election show a neck-and-neck race between the candidates from the Maldives Development Alliance (MDA) and the People’s National Congress (PNC). According to the preliminary count, Suha Ibrahim received 115 votes from Meedhoo Ballot Box 2, while Mohamed Shahid secured 127 votes. In Ballot Box 1, Suha Ibrahim led with 136 votes, while Shahid followed closely with 135 votes.

According to the Elections Commission's website, Suha secured a total of 377 votes across all ballot boxes, including those specifically mentioned. Meanwhile, Shahid received 367 votes. However, MDA has raised questions regarding the validity of these results.

Speaking to RaajjeTV regarding the matter, an MDA observer alleged that the vote had been significantly rigged. He noted that according to the Elections Commission's website, only four people cast their ballots in the box designated for Meedhoo residents in L. Fonadhoo. He further stated that the records show all four of those votes were cast in favor of the PNC candidate, Suha.

However, he expressed concern over discrepancies on the Elections Commission (EC) website, noting that one individual recorded as having voted was not even present in Fonadhoo at the time, while another person physically located in Meedhoo was listed as having cast a ballot in a Fonadhoo ballot box. The observer described this as a significant act of fraud, stating that the individual marked as having voted in the EC statistics has personally confirmed they did not cast a vote. Consequently, he asserted that these findings reveal substantial manipulation in the reporting of vote counts in an attempt to secure a victory for the PNC candidate, Suha.

It is claimed that Suha secured 100 percent of the votes from the L. Fonadhoo ballot box. However, we have verified through the Elections Commission’s website that one individual registered to that specific box was actually in Dh. Meedhoo. This person has sworn that they did not go to vote. It appears they are now casting fraudulent votes in the names of people across the Maldives who have not turned up to the polls. Votes are being cast while the actual voters remain in their home islands. When the results for the L. Fonadhoo box came in, it indicated that this individual from Dh. Meedhoo had also voted for the PNC candidate, Suha. Despite never traveling to L. Fonadhoo, the records show a vote was cast there in their name. This is the core of the dispute. They have allegedly committed voter fraud to ensure Candidate Number 1 takes the lead on the Elections Commission’s website. We have also received information that they are contacting individuals privately to verify whether or not they intend to vote. Once they confirm a person is not attending the polls, they are reportedly informing them that a vote will be marked on their behalf.

MDA Observer

The results of Saturday's local council elections indicate a significant lack of public support for President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu and his party, the People's National Congress (PNC). The opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) secured mayoral seats in all five of the country's cities. While the MDP won every council seat in Male' City with the exception of the Vilimale' constituency, President Muizzu's PNC failed to secure a single seat on the Fuvahmulah City Council.

In the Women's Development Committee elections, the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) secured the presidency of the committees in all five cities across the Maldives. Furthermore, the MDP also won a significant majority of the remaining seats on these committees.