Ruling People’s National Congress (PNC) Parliamentary Group Leader Ibrahim Falah has expressed confidence that Addu City will emerge as a stronghold for the party by the next presidential election, despite the party narrowly losing the Hithadhoo North parliamentary by-election held on Saturday.
In a post shared on X following the election, Falah argued that the outcome marked the end of what had long been considered an MDP stronghold, pointing to the PNC candidate’s performance in ballot boxes located within Hithadhoo.
The by-election was held to fill the vacant Hithadhoo North seat in the People’s Majlis after a Supreme Court ruling led to the removal of former MP Mohamed Sinan.
According to provisional results released by the Elections Commission (EC), Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) candidate and former Addu City Mayor Abdulla Sodiq (Sobe) secured victory with 1,375 votes, while PNC candidate Ahmed Saeed (Soda) received 1,313 votes. The final margin between the two candidates stood at 62 votes.
Although Sodiq won the constituency overall, Falah highlighted that Saeed secured more votes from ballot boxes placed within Hithadhoo itself.
EC figures show that out of the five ballot boxes located in Hithadhoo, Saeed received 958 votes compared to Sodiq’s 924 votes, giving the PNC candidate a lead of 34 votes within the city.
Referring to those figures, Falah claimed the results reflected growing support for the ruling party in Addu.
He noted that several senior opposition figures had actively campaigned during the by-election, including former Presidents Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and Mohamed Nasheed, MDP President Abdulla Shahid, former MDP Chairperson Fayyaz Ismail, Malé City Mayor Adam Azim and senior MDP figure Mohamed Aslam.
Falah also referenced support extended to the MDP candidate by former President Abdulla Yameen, arguing that the outcome of the Hithadhoo ballot boxes demonstrated changing political sentiments among voters in Addu.
“The residents living in Addu are effectively saying that the MDP leadership has failed and neglected Addu,” Falah said in his statement.
The PNC parliamentary group leader further argued that the party’s candidate leading in four of the seven ballot boxes used in the election reflected growing public support for both the party and President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu.
“This is proof of the trust and love for President Muizzu. In 2028, Addu will become a PNC stronghold, Insha’Allah,” he said.
The by-election attracted significant national attention, with both major political parties deploying senior figures to campaign in Addu during the final days leading up to the vote.
The contest was viewed by political observers as an early test of public sentiment ahead of future national elections, particularly given Addu City’s long-standing significance in Maldivian politics and its reputation as a key electoral battleground.
While the MDP ultimately retained the seat through Sodiq’s victory, both parties have sought to frame aspects of the result as evidence of growing support among voters in the southern city.
Official results are expected to be formally confirmed by the Elections Commission following completion of the necessary electoral procedures.
