The Elections Commission of the Maldives (ECM) has stated that it received three complaints regarding the voters’ list for the Guraidhoo constituency by-election.
Speaking to PSM News, Deputy Director at ECM Abdulla Unais said that the electoral body will respond to the complaints within five days. The Guraidhoo constituency by-election is scheduled to be held on April 15 and voters were required to submit their complaints by April 1.
ECM stated that no complaints have been submitted regarding the ongoing campaigns and that the electoral body hopes to hold the election peacefully and transparently. Ballot boxes will be placed in the three islands of the Guraidhoo constituency as well as in Male’ City. A total of 3,423 individuals are eligible to vote in the by-election.
The candidates contesting the vacant Guraidhoo Constituency Parliament seat are 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 Guraidhoo seat became vacant after Parliamentarian Riza passed away on February 23 while undergoing treatment for cancer in Malaysia. Riza represented the Guraidhoo constituency as a member of PPM for 15 years.