MDP mayors say they are ‘coming to win 2028’ after sweeping local victories

The mayors of the opposition MDP’s five cities said on Monday evening that, following the party’s sweeping victories in Saturday’s elections, they are now preparing to win the 2028 presidential election and “save the country from the hands of this government.”

The ruling PNC suffered a major defeat in Saturday’s vote. A majority of the public rejected the government’s push to merge the two main elections, and the MDP secured key council seats across the country.

Fourteen candidates contested the mayoral seats in Male', Addu, Fuvahmulah, Kulhudhuffushi and Thinadhoo. Provisional results show MDP candidates leading in all five cities.

Speaking at the ‘Heyvalla Thayyaaru’ rally held to celebrate the victory, the mayors delivered a unified message: “We are coming to win 2028.”

Male' City Mayor Adam Azim said he will enter the new council term with the support of 15 out of 17 councillors, crediting the hard work of Male' City Council staff. He said the same determination would carry the MDP to victory in the 2028 presidential election.

“MDP is a hardworking party that succeeds through effort. We are not a party that relies on money or influence. We are coming to yellowify the whole city and the whole country. We will end up winning in 2028,” Azim said.

ލޯކަލް ކައުންސިލް އާއި އަންހެނުންގެ ތަރައްޤީއަށް މަސައްކަތް ކުރާ ކޮމީޓީގެ އިންތިޙާބު 2026
“ހޭވައްލާ ތައްޔާރު” އެމްޑީޕީއަށް ލިބުނު ބޮޑު ކާމިޔާބީ ފާހަގަކުރުން ކުރިއަށްދަނީ. pic.twitter.com/NVotCBukhG

— MDP Secretariat (@MDPSecretariat) April 6, 2026

Azim also urged the government not to obstruct the implementation of his manifesto, warning that the council would protest if necessary.

Addu City Mayor Ali Nizar said Saturday’s results were a clear message from the people to stop the government from “taking the country in the wrong direction.” He said the interim government had failed to deliver basic services equally across the Maldives.

Nizar noted that Addu, the country’s second‑most populated region, has endured unresolved issues for years, including persistent electricity problems and sewage surfacing on roads. He also described President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu’s campaign‑closing remarks about councils being under government control as “dangerous.”

Kulhudhuffushi City Mayor Mohamed Athif and Thinadhoo City Mayor Saud Ali also reiterated that the MDP will defeat the government in 2028.

The mayors said the president had assumed that the public would support him simply because he asked for it, but Saturday’s results showed that “if things go badly, the people will not stand idly by.”