Ibrahim Shaz, the candidate of main ruling Maldivian Democratic party (MDP), has won the the Guraidhoo Constituency by-election. It is the first time MDP won the Guraidhoo Constituency Parliament seat.
The preliminary results show that MDP candidate Shaz won with 1,346 votes while the candidate of the main opposition Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) Hussain Riza received 1,226 votes, and the candidate of the Maldives National Party (MNP) Ali Areef received 122 votes.
Voters began casting their ballots in Guraidhoo, Maafushi, and Gulhi in Kaafu Atoll, at 0800hrs on April 15. A total of two ballot boxes were placed in Guraidhoo, two were placed in Maafushi, and one box was placed in Gulhi. A total of 3,423 individuals are eligible to cast their vote in the by-election.
The Elections Commission of the Maldives (ECM) stated that the voting process went smoothly but that some political parties complained after the polling time was extended due to voters having difficulty arriving at the polling stations due to rain. ECM stated that it received two such complaints but did not receive any that would affect the results.
The Guraidhoo Constituency Parliament seat became vacant after Parliamentarian Riza passed away on February 23 while undergoing treatment for cancer in Malaysia. 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.