Mariyam Shiuna has secured the highest number of votes in the election for women’s seats on the People’s National Congress (PNC) Council, receiving the backing of 931 delegates as the ruling party continues to elect its new leadership.
Shiuna was among 22 candidates competing for 10 Council seats specifically reserved for women during voting held at the PNC Congress in Malé on Wednesday.
Her 931 votes placed her at the top of the field and secured her a place on the party’s Council alongside nine other successful candidates.
Sheereen Abdulsamad, Aishath Mohamed, Fathimath Ruhusana, Fathimath Mizna, Fathimath Mohamed, Aasiyath Riyasa, Aminath Namza, Aminath Shuhuda and Mariyam Saamiya were also elected to the 10 reserved positions.
The election formed part of a busy day of voting at the PNC Congress, where more than 1,300 delegates from across the Maldives are choosing representatives for several positions within the ruling party.
Earlier on Wednesday, delegates elected six vice presidents from a field of eight candidates.
Sports Minister Abdulla Rafiu topped that election with 968 votes, narrowly ahead of Fisheries Minister Ahmed Shiyam, who received 964 votes.
Nilandhoo MP Fathimath Saudha, Baarah MP Ibrahim Shujau, Economic Development Minister Mohamed Saeed and Chief Presidential Spokesperson Mohamed Hussain Shareef, known as Mundhu, secured the remaining four vice president positions.
Local Government Authority CEO Mohamed Nimal and Central Maafannu MP Asma Rasheed were unsuccessful in the vice president race.
Attention has since shifted to the composition of the PNC Council, which includes seats representing different sections of the party.
Alongside the 10 positions reserved for women, seven Council seats have been allocated for youth representatives.
A further 18 general Council positions are being contested through an open category, which has attracted the largest field of candidates in the internal elections.
More than 70 candidates are competing for those 18 seats, making it one of the most crowded contests of the Congress.
The leadership elections are being held as part of PNC’s four-day Congress, which began on Tuesday and is scheduled to continue until Friday, September 18.
President Dr Mohamed Muizzu, who leads the PNC, opened the gathering by calling on members to remain united regardless of the outcome of the internal elections.
The Congress follows nationwide internal elections held by PNC earlier this year as the ruling party works to formalise and strengthen its organisational structure across the country.
PNC says its membership has now grown to more than 78,000, while the party also holds a commanding majority in the People’s Majlis.
With the vice president and women’s Council elections now decided, voting for the remaining positions will determine the wider leadership team that will work alongside Muizzu in running the party.
