Sports Minister Abdulla Rafiu has topped the vote in the People’s National Congress (PNC) vice presidential election, securing one of six elected positions as Local Government Authority CEO Mohamed Nimal and Central Maafannu MP Asma Rasheed missed out.
Eight candidates competed for six vice president positions during voting held at the ruling party’s ongoing Congress at the Social Centre in Malé.
Rafiu emerged with the strongest result, receiving 968 votes.
Fisheries Minister Ahmed Shiyam finished just four votes behind with 964, while Nilandhoo MP Fathimath Saudha secured 923 votes to finish third.
Baarah MP Ibrahim Shujau received 862 votes, followed by Economic Development Minister Mohamed Saeed with 833.
Chief Presidential Spokesperson Mohamed Hussain Shareef, widely known as Mundhu, claimed the final available position with 780 votes.
The gap between the six successful candidates and the two who missed out was considerable.
Nimal received 301 votes, while Asma finished with 288, the lowest total among the eight candidates.
The results mean Rafiu, Shiyam, Saudha, Shujau, Saeed and Mundhu will serve as the six elected vice presidents of the ruling party.
Voting was carried out digitally through a dedicated mobile application, with delegates given seven minutes to cast their ballots.
The election brought together several prominent figures from within President Dr Mohamed Muizzu’s administration and the PNC parliamentary group, making the vice presidential contest one of the most closely watched elections of the four-day Congress.
Under the PNC’s governing rules, the party will ultimately have eight vice presidents despite only six positions being decided through Wednesday’s election.
The sitting Vice President of the Maldives and the leader of the PNC Parliamentary Group also serve as vice presidents of the party by virtue of their positions, bringing the total to eight.
The results also reshape the senior leadership of a party that has expanded significantly since coming to power.
PNC opened its National Congress on Tuesday, with more than 1,300 delegates gathering in Malé from constituencies and islands across the country.
President Muizzu, who also serves as PNC president, inaugurated the gathering and called on members to remain united regardless of the outcome of the internal elections.
The President said elections would inevitably produce winners and those who did not secure positions, urging members to accept the results and continue working together as one party.
The Congress is also electing representatives to several other party bodies.
Twenty-two candidates entered the race for 10 seats reserved for women on the Members’ Council, while 13 candidates are competing for seven youth seats. Another 73 candidates are contesting 18 general member positions.
Several positions in the party’s Women’s and Youth movements were decided without a vote after the number of candidates matched the positions available.
The Congress follows internal elections held across more than 130 constituencies in July as PNC reorganises and expands its nationwide party structure.
The gathering will continue through Friday, September 18, with further elections, ministerial sessions, party programmes and discussions on PNC’s future direction scheduled during the remaining days.
