Adam Shareef: Will work alongside all councils without discrimination

Minister Adam Shareef Umar of Cities, Local Government, and Public Works said on Sunday that the government is committed to working alongside all local councils without discrimination.

In a post on X, he congratulated candidates who won seats in Saturday’s local council and Women’s Development Committee (WDC) elections.

He expressed optimism that the newly elected members would strengthen community engagement and promote inclusivity by working responsibly and closely with the public.

The Minister also assured that the Ministry would work alongside all councils without discrimination, adding that induction of the newly elected members would breathe new life into Maldives’ decentralization system.

ލޯކަލް ކައުންސިލް އަދި އަންހެނުންގެ ތަރައްޤީއަށް މަސައްކަތްކުރާ ކޮމިޓީތަކުގެ އިންތިޚާބު ކާމިޔާބު ކުރެއްވި ހުރިހާ ބޭފުޅުންނަށް މަރުޙަބާ ދަންނަވަން.
އަލަށް އިންތިޚާބު ކުރެވޭ ކައުންސިލްތަކާއި
އަންހެނުންގެ ތަރައްޤީއަށް މަސައްކަތްކުރާ ކޮމިޓީތަކުން ރައްޔިތުންގެ ބައިވެރިވުމާއި…

— Adam Shareef Umar (@Adamshareefz) April 4, 2026

Maldivians voted on Saturday in the local council elections, the Women’s Development Committee (WDC) elections, as well as a referendum on merging the presidential and parliamentary elections.

Preliminary results show that main opposition MDP has swept the mayoral race in five Maldivian cities – Male’, Addu, Fuvahmulah, Thinadhoo and Kulhudhuffushi – as incumbent mayors representing the main opposition party defended their seats. MDP also swept the majority of the council and WDC seats.

Meanwhile, the majority were against the government-backed amendment to merge the presidential and parliamentary elections, which dealt a major blow to the government.

While 294,876 people were eligible to vote in the three elections held on Saturday, a total of 185,709 individuals cast their votes at the closure of polling hours. This accounts for 63 percent of the eligible voters.