The Elections Commission of the Maldives (ECM) has revealed that three candidates will be contesting the Guraidhoo Constituency by-election.
The candidates contesting the vacant Guraidhoo Constituency Parliament seat include Ibrahim Shaz, who received the main ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) ticket after winning the primary election, and Ali Areef who received the Maldives National Party (MNP) ticket. The main opposition Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) awarded its ticket to Hussain Riza, the younger brother of the late Parliamentarian Ibrahim Riza who filled the seat for three terms.
The seat became vacant after Parliamentarian Riza passed away on February 23 while undergoing treatment for cancer in Malaysia. Following Riza's death, ECM decided to hold a by-election for the Guraidhoo constituency on April 15 and accepted candidates until the end of March 13.
It is the second time a by-election is being held during the current parliamentary term. The first by-election was held after the death of Parliamentarian Hussain Waheed.