Zariyandh files police case over “theft” of campaign posters

Ismail Zariyandh, an independent candidate contesting for Male’ mayorship in the upcoming Local Council elections, has filed a police case over theft of his campaign posters.

Zariyandh, via a post on X on Monday night, said his campaign posters in Hulhumale’ were removed by “a group of people in Housing Development Corporation (HDC) uniform”.

He added that he has filed a police case over the “theft” of his posters put up at private properties of his supporters.

ހުޅުމާލޭގައި ހުރި އަޅުގަނޑުގެ ކެމްޕޭން ޕޯސްޓަރުތައް "އެޗްޑީސީ" ހެދުމުގައި ތިބި ބަޔަކު މެދުވެރިކޮށް "ސިއްރިއްޔާތުގައި" ނަގާފައިވުމާއި، ސަޕޯޓަރުންގެ އަމިއްލަ ބިންތަކުގައި ހުރި ޕޯސްޓަރުތަކެއްވެސް ވަގަށްނެގި މައްސަލަ މިހާރުވާނީ ފުލުހުންނަށް ހުށަހަޅާފައެވެ.
މި ޒަމާނުގައި ހުދުމުޙުތާރު…

— Ismail Zariyand (@zariyand) March 16, 2026

Contesting the mayoral position with backing from former president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom, Zariyandh called on President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu to respect democratic values and prayed that the government has the mental resilience needed for democratic governance.

While Zariyandh has reported the theft of his posters to the authorities, the Housing Development Corporation (HDC), which oversees Hulhumalé, has removed campaign posters put up by the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) for the upcoming council elections, citing failure to obtain the necessary permits.

Fathimath Zahiyya (Zaya), the MDP candidate for North Hulhumalé, claimed that her poster had been removed and replaced with one promoting a candidate from the ruling People’s National Congress (PNC).

Furthermore, a video shared on X by Dhauru journalist Muzayyin Nazim shows HDC employees removing MDP posters from public areas.

Political competition between the ruling PNC and opposition MDP has intensified as the Local Council Elections near.