Local Council and Women's Development Committee Elections 2021

Read an overview of MDP's shock defeat in Satuday's elections for Male' City Mayor:

This is the first press conference by the President following Saturday's vote. View the livestream here.

Citizens have taken to social media to express outrage over the election of Mohamed Ahmed (PPM) as Gahdhoo Council President. The opposition candidate is currently jailed for suspected child sexual abuse, cases for which court proceedings are still ongoing.

Mohamed Ahmed, Vincent, GDh. Gahdhoo, won Saturday's election with 737 votes. Mohamed Rizan of main-ruling MDP contested against him and was able to secure 652 votes. This is a difference of 85 votes.

At the time of the election, both the Elections Commission and the Progressive Party of Maldives had been aware of the charges raised against Mohamed Ahmed in court. However, he had been allowed to contest in the elections despite the serious and sensitive nature of the allegations, as he had not been proven guilty of them in court.

Mohamed Ahmed has also previously served as the Gahdhoo Council President. In 2015, Mohamed Ahmed was accused of sexually abusing a child while in office, and to this day, the case remains lodged at the Gahdhoo Magistrate Court.

Last year, allegations surfaced that Mohamed Ahmed had exposed a child to pornography; he is currently in prison as there are still three separate charges raised against him.

As MDP faced an embarrassing defeat in the race for Malé City's mayoral seat during Saturday's local council polls, Speaker Nasheed has said that one must not depend on the belief that a political party or belief will "always" receive full support, commitment and backing.

Nasheed said that he does not believe the outcomes of Saturday's polls do not mean that his "political fame" is on a downward spiral.

Mohamed Nasheed, speaker of parliament has claimed that they will not attempt to reform the system due to the stunning defeat in Malé mayorship race.

He said that MDP has always wanted to deliver progress and development to the people of Maldives.

With this being said, the speaker also claimed that Malé residents and citizens nationwide crave for development.

Nasheed said that MDP aims to bring development under a decentralized governance.

Speaking during the MDP's presser on Sunday afternoon, Nasheed claimed that the dispute within MDP's leadership and the party is a direct result of corruption.

Accusing the government of being involved in corrupt practices, Nasheed asserted that MDP stands against these acts of corruption.

Speaker Mohamed Nasheed has said that Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, who leads the race for Malé City mayorship, is a clever and capable candidate.

Although MDP's candidate Anas Abdul Sattar lost the race, Nasheed stated that he is equally capable and has a bright future ahead of him.

Speaking at the press conference, Nasheed said that there is nothing surprising about the results of Saturday's polls.

Former President and Speaker of Parliament Mohamed Nasheed will be holding a press conference at 2:30pm in the afternoon on Sunday.

The presser will take place at the MDP Office, and will likely see Speaker Nasheed comment on MDP's performance in yesterday's elections as the party continues to make gains across atolls despite a stunning defeat in Male' City.

Former President and Speaker of Parliament Mohamed Nasheed has acknowledged that MDP had a successful run in the Local Council Elections, with the notable exception of losses in the Male' City Council, and has congratulated former Housing Minister and opposition mayoral candidate Dr. Mohamed Muizzu for his success at Saturday's polls.

Speaker Nasheed has asserted that he will be supportive of Dr. Muizzu, and expressed hopes that Dr. Muizzu would be willing to work together with the government in his capacity as mayor.

President of the Elections Commission Ahmed Shareef has revealed in a tweet that 17 ballot boxes are still being counted across islands and resorts in the Maldives following Saturday's elections.

Preliminary results for the Local Council and Women's Development Committee elections received by RaajjeMV thus far are as follows:

Number of ballot boxes counted: 146

Wins for MDP: 233 seats

Wins for AP: four seats

Wins for JP: six seats

Wins for PPM: 106 seats

Wins for MDA: 13

Wins for independent candidates: 77

Preliminary results for the Local Council and Women's Development Committee elections received by RaajjeMV thus far are as follows:

Number of ballot boxes counted: 124

Wins for MDP: 200 seats

Wins for PPM: 96

Wins for MDA: 8

Wins for independent candidates: 68

For the first time, opposition party candidates have been elected to the council of Thinadhoo island in Gaaf Dhaal atoll.

Preliminary results of Saturday's polls show that PPM candidates Aishath Liusha Zubair and Ahmed Waheed won the seats in Thinadhoo council.

This year's council elections also saw an opposition candidate winning the presidency at the Gaaf Dhaal atoll council.

Hassan Faihath Gudrathullah stands to be elected as the Gaaf Dhaal atoll council's president.

Saturday's local council polls saw a majority of Malé City residents casting their ballots for the opposition Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) candidate, Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, who leads the mayoral race with a vast majority.

With this being said, PPM has also won the majority within the Malé City Council. As such, PPM has won 12 out of 19 seats in the Malé City Council.

Taking to Twitter after the polling results for the Malé City mayor seat was announced on Saturday night, winner Dr. Mohamed Muizzu's opponent, MDP candidate Anas Abdul Sattar congratulated the PPM contestant's mayorship win.

Anas stated that the people of Malé City have spoken and that he accepts the outcome of the elections.

He further went on to highlight that MDP has to look at the results and re-strategize its approach to win over the people of Malé.

The MDP candidate expressed gratitude to the Malé residents who voted for him.

For the first time, ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has lost the Addu City council's super majority.

Out of the 13 Addu City council seats, MDP was only able to win seven seats. Three PPM candidates and three independent candidates took the remaining six seats.

Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, who won the mayorship of Male' City during Saturday's local council polls, told press that the people of Male' City are calling for justice, which he promised to deliver.

He went on to promise that during his term as Male' City's mayor, he will work in collaboration with all councillors, as a team.

He affirmed to always base his work around the wellbeing of the citizens.

Muizzu stated that the people will see a council that delivers promises, brings good results to the table and works efficiently in good will.

Speaking to press after his mayorship win, PPM candidate Dr. Mohamed Muizzu stated that the results of Saturday's polls are very clear and that the people of the capital city are calling for the release of PPM's incarcerated leader and former president Abdulla Yameen.

Speaking to press after his victory in the Local Council Elections that took place on Saturday, Dr. Mohamed Muizzu expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the citizens of Male' City who helped him secure the win of the capital's mayorship.

Officials of the Elections Commission have completed counting votes in all ballot boxes stationed at Maafannu stadium, for Fuvahmulah constituencies.

Six ballot boxes were placed in Maafannu stadium.

Total votes: 115; Invalid votes: 12

Valid votes: 115

Moosa Shafeeq: 45

Hussain Rasheed: 70

Total Votes: 254; Invalid votes: 10; Uncast ballots: 28;

Valid votes: 216

Fathimath Nuzuha: 56

Fathimath Rahusa: 71

Aishath Nasma: 41

Fathimath Azmeera: 48

Total votes: 254; Invalid votes: 10; Uncast ballots: 40

Valid votes: 204

Mohamed Adam: 75

Hussain Naseer: 58

Ibrahim Sunan: 19

Mohamed Hamdhoon: 52