Deputy leader of the People’s National Congress (PNC) and MP for Madduvari constituency, Adam Shareef has stated that the country will head towards a dictatorship if the incumbent administration is allowed to win the majority in the upcoming local council elections.

Adam Shareef made the statement in response to comments by President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih while speaking at a campaign event for the main ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) held on Saturday morning.

Speaking at the event, President Solih stated that MDP will earn great achievements in the upcoming elections, adding that the local council elections will follow the same course as the parliamentary elections with the support of the people.

In response, Adam Shareef took to Twitter stating that the citizens are faced with an administration that has failed to declare a minimum wage, increased employee probation periods, halted the teaching of certain subjects and violates the separation of powers.

Moreover, he added that citizens are aware of the fact that allowing the main ruling party to win the local council elections will set the country on the course for authoritarian leadership.

The main ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) and main opposition Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) have both held primaries for the upcoming local council and women's development committee elections slated for April 4th. While 983 candidates are contesting in this election, this will be the first election to be held after the new revisions to the Decentralisation Act.