MDP's Abdulla Sodiq Wins Hithadhoo North By-Election in Tight Contest

Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) candidate Abdulla Sodiq has secured the parliamentary seat for Hithadhoo North, according to interim results from the recent by-election. Sodiq emerged victorious in a closely contested race against Ahmed Saeed, the candidate representing the ruling People’s National Congress (PNC). The final tally shows Sodiq receiving 1,375 votes, narrowly defeating Saeed, who secured 1,313 votes. Out of 4,121 eligible registered voters, a total of 2,730 ballots were cast, resulting in a voter turnout of 66.25 percent. Of the votes cast, 2,688 were deemed valid, while 42 were discarded as invalid. To facilitate the voting process, seven ballot boxes were established across two locations: five at Hithadhoo School in Addu City and two at Dharumavantha School in the capital, Malé. Abdulla Sodiq brings significant administrative experience to the Majlis, the Maldivian Parliament. He previously served as the first Mayor of Addu City for three terms and held the position of State Minister of Housing and Infrastructure under a previous administration. The by-election was triggered after the Supreme Court of the Maldives ruled that the former Member of Parliament, Mohamed Sinan, had failed to meet scheduled debt repayment obligations. This legal failure resulted in Sinan losing his parliamentary seat, leaving the Hithadhoo North constituency without representation until this vote.