Elections Commission of the Maldives (ECM) has set February 11 as the deadline for candidates contesting in the Local Council Elections (LCE) and Women’s Development Committee Elections (WDCE) to withdraw their names from contention.
ECM had opened the opportunity for LCE and WDCE candidates to withdraw their names in June last year, following the postponement of the elections which were originally scheduled to be held in April last year. The opportunity to withdraw candidacy was provided under the Special Act on Local Council Elections which was ratified in May last year to allow the elections to be postponed due to COVID-19.
Earlier this week, ECM has announced the rescheduled elections will be held on April 10. ECM said the latest date for candidates to withdraw their names from contention would be February 11. ECM said no candidate will be allowed to withdraw their candidacy after 1400hrs on February 11.
ECM had earlier revealed 95 LCE candidates have already withdrawn their names, including 34 candidates from the ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), 16 candidates from the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM), 8 candidates from Jumhooree Party (JP) and 36 independent candidates. Meanwhile, 58 WDCE candidates have also withdrawn from the election, including 36 MDP candidates, 3 PPM candidates and 19 independent candidates.