PNC hands ticket to Saeed after Sinan drops out of North Hithadhoo race

The ruling People’s National Congress (PNC) has decided to hand the party’s ticket for the upcoming North Hithadhoo parliamentary by-election to Ahmed Saeed (Soda), an incumbent councilman, after Mohamed Sina, who lost the seat earlier in April, decided to drop out of the race.

Sinan was elected to the North Hithadhoo seat in 2024, after beating Mohamed Aslam – a politician from the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) who had held the seat for 20 years.

But he lost the seat on April 5, after losing a Supreme Court case filed over a declared debt.

Sinan and Saeed had contested the PNC primary on Saturday, with the former defeating the latter by a vote of 226-187.

But Sinan announced on Wednesday that he has decided against contesting the by-election.

The PNC held a press briefing in the afternoon, during which Fisheries Minister Ahmed Shiyam, the party’s vice president, announced the decision to hand the ticket to Saeed, citing lack of time to hold another primary.

Responding to questions by reporters, Shiyam expressed confidence regarding PNC’s popularity in North Hithadhoo.

“Unlike the previous administration, we aren’t going to pour [projects] into the district just because there’s a by-election. Given that all citizens have always advocated that that is not something that should be done. However, we are ready to do what we need to the highest degree as a political party,” he said.

Sinan announced his decision to bow out of the race in a post on X.

Sinan said that he had engaged in extensive discussions with a large number constituents over the last three days, and decided that the best chance for PNC to win the by-election is for him to step back and make way for a fresh face.

He said that despite the decision to bow out of the race, he will be providing his full support to the party’s candidate in the by-election.

The by-election is scheduled for June 6.