By-Elections Set for November 28; Candidates Announced for Four Local Council and Women’s Committee Seats

The Elections Commission has announced the names of candidates contesting in the by-elections for the Local Council and women's development committees, scheduled for next month. The by-elections will fill vacancies that arose in the local council and women's development committee elections held earlier this year. Voting will take place on November 28 from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. By-elections will be held in four constituencies: for the President of the Vaavu Thinooru Council, a member of the Vaavu Thinooru Women's Development Committee, the President of the Haa Alif Vaafaru Women’s Committee, and a member of the Addu Hulhudhoo Women’s Committee. Additionally, a seat on the Noonu Kaafu Women’s Development Committee was won unopposed by Aishath Soha Mohamed Sinaan of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP). Two candidates will compete in each of the four contested seats. In Vaavu Thinooru, for Council President, Shuja Ali (MDP) faces Ahmed Aman Mohamed (PNC); for the Women's Committee, Zainah Ahmed (Independent) competes against Rishfa Naseem (MDP). In Haa Alif Vaafaru, Rishma Adam (Independent) and Zainaz Ahmed (PNC) contest the Women's Committee presidency. In Addu Hulhudhoo, Fatima Nabaha (PNC) and Fatima Munira (MDP) vie for a Women's Committee seat. The Elections Commission confirmed that 3,776 people are eligible to vote: 185 from Vaavu Thinooru, 688 from Haa Alif Vaafaru, and 2,903 from Addu Hulhudhoo.