PNC candidate Suha wins Meedhoo Council President election
PNC candidate Suha Ibrahim has won the re-run of the Dhuvaafaru Meedhoo Council presidency election, which was ordered by the High Court following a previous tie. Suha secured the seat with 529 votes, defeating MDA candidate Mohamed Shahid, who received 449 votes. Additionally, the High Court has ruled in favor of PNC candidates regarding electoral disputes involving the Thimarafushi and Veyvah councils.
Suha Ibrahim, the candidate representing the ruling People's National Congress (PNC), has won the election for the presidency of the Dhaalu Meedhoo Island Council. | PNC
Suha Ibrahim, the candidate from the ruling People's National Congress (PNC), has won the re-vote for the presidency of the Dhaal Meedhoo Council. The fresh election was called after the initial poll resulted in a tie between the PNC candidate and the candidate from the Maldives Development Alliance (MDA).
In Saturday's election, the contest for the presidency of the Meedhoo Council featured Suha alongside Mohamed Shahid, the candidate representing the Maldives Development Alliance (MDA).
A total of 1,049 individuals were eligible to vote in this election, where three ballot boxes were stationed. PNC candidate Suha secured the lead in all three boxes. Out of the 985 votes cast, Suha received 529 votes, while MDA candidate Shahid garnered 449 votes. The total count included 7 invalid ballots.
The PNC candidate has filed a case with the High Court following a recount of the Meedhoo No. 2 ballot box, which resulted in the loss of a vote and handed victory to the MDA candidate in the Dh. Meedhoo Council President election. The legal challenge arose after disputes regarding the votes received by the candidates from the ruling People's National Congress (PNC) and the Maldives Development Alliance (MDA).
The High Court judges presiding over the case have ruled that the 17th ballot in the disputed bundle is valid, as requested by the PNC candidate. This ruling brings the PNC candidate to a tie with the MDA candidate. Consequently, the court has ordered the official election results to be amended and re-announced.
Following the High Court's ruling, a fresh election must be held as the two candidates are currently tied. The runoff election will feature two contenders: Suha Ibrahim of the People's National Congress (PNC), representing Dilshaaduge, Dh. Meedhoo, and Mohamed Shahid of the Maldives Development Alliance (MDA), representing Mushtarivilla, Dh. Meedhoo.
The re-run of the Dhaalu Meedhoo Council Presidential election was held on Saturday, June 13, 2026, with polling stations open from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. The Elections Commission has confirmed that the official results of the election will be announced on June 14.
Regarding other cases filed with the High Court concerning the council elections, the court has ruled in favor of Mohamed Imad, the PNC candidate who contested the Th. Thimarafushi Council seat. Imad had filed an election grievance seeking a recount of the ballot box located at Aminiya School, where discrepancies were reported. The High Court has subsequently ordered the Elections Commission to recount those ballots and re-determine the official results for that specific polling station.
Furthermore, the High Court of the Maldives has ruled in favor of the PNC candidate regarding a legal challenge over the results of the ballot box stationed in Veyvah during the recent local council elections. The ruling declared three votes previously cast for the MDP candidate as invalid, effectively securing the lead and victory for the PNC candidate.
