The ruling People’s National Congress (PNC) has secured 69 seats without contest in the upcoming local council and Women’s Development Committee (WDC) elections, according to the Elections Commission of Maldives.
In a statement issued on Friday, the commission confirmed that several candidates were declared elected after the close of nominations and the withdrawal period, in constituencies where the number of candidates matched the number of available seats or where remaining contenders faced no opposition.
Of the uncontested council seats, 28 were won by PNC candidates. The opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) and the Adhaalath Party (AP) each secured one seat without a vote, while three independent candidates were also elected unopposed.
The commission has published the official list of candidates who secured seats through the uncontested process.
During the designated withdrawal period, 67 candidates pulled out of the race — including 31 who had initially filed for WDC positions and 36 seeking local council seats.
Although 2,994 candidates originally submitted applications to contest in the April local council and WDC elections, the total number of contestants has now decreased to 2,927 following the withdrawals.
The development gives the ruling party an early advantage ahead of polling, as parties continue to campaign across the country for the remaining contested seats.
