The main opposition candidate Dr. Mohamed Muizzu from the People's National Congress (PNC) is leading with more than half the ballot boxes counted in the presidential election.
According to the results collected by Adhadhu, 327 ballot boxes out of 574 had been counted by 8:25 pm with Muizzu leading by 48,893 votes or 44.5 percent.
President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has won 43,384 votes or 39.5 percent.
Ilyas Labeeb from The Democrats is third with 7,152 votes or 6.5 percent. Qasim Ibrahim from the Jumhooree Party (JP) has won 2.8 percent or 3.088 votes.
The winning candidate must secure above 50 percent of the vote. If no candidate wins a majority in the first round, a run-off will be held between the first- and second-placed candidates.
The second round if required will take place on September 30.
This year's election sees the highest number of candidates since the adoption of the new constitution in 2008. There were six candidates in 2008, four candidates in 2013 and two candidates in 2018.
