Soabe wins MDP’s North Hithadhoo ticket for parliamentary by-election uncontested

Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has announced that former Addu City Mayor Abdulla Sodiq (Soabe) will represent the party in the upcoming parliamentary by-election for the Hithadhoo North constituency, following the close of the application period for its primary, with no other candidacies.

The MDP had opened applications for the by-election primary from last Sunday until 2:00 p.m. today. According to the party, Sodiq—who currently serves as the MDP’s president for the Hithadhoo North constituency—was the sole applicant to express interest in contesting the seat and has therefore been officially designated as the party’s candidate.

The by-election was triggered after the Supreme Court ruled last Sunday, which saw ruling PNC's Mohamed Sinan, who previously held the seat, became unseated. The ruling followed a case filed by Ghalib Saleem, citing Sinan’s failure to settle a debt in accordance with a judgment issued by the Addu Hithadhoo Magistrate Court. All five justices presiding over the case unanimously determined that Sinan had been unseated due to proven unsettled debt.

Speaking with Sun earlier, Sodiq confirmed his intention to contest the vacant seat. Meanwhile, former MP Mohamed Sinan has also expressed his intent to run in the by-election in an effort to reclaim the position.

Under Maldivian law, a by-election to fill a vacant parliamentary seat must be announced within five days of the vacancy being declared, with the election to be held within 60 days.

The Elections Commission (EC) announced on Monday that the by-election will take place on June 6, from 8:00am to 16:00pm, with official results expected to be declared on June 8. The Commission has opened the application period for candidates from 10:00 a.m. last Tuesday until 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 29.