The ruling People's National Congress (PNC) candidate Azima Shukoor who faced defeat in yesterday's Male' city mayoral by-election won only five out of 55 ballot boxes.
Fifty-five ballot boxes were placed in 14 polling stations for the elections held in Male' yesterday. The turnout was only 32 percent out of 54,680 eligible voters.
Based on the results of individual boxes tallied by Adhadhu, Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) candidate Adam Azim won most boxes by a large margin.
The government candidate took the lead in only five boxes, which was nine percent of the total boxes. The results of two boxes in Vilimale' were tied.
Boxes won by Azima
- Hulhumale' 1 (T1.1)
- Hulhumale' 4 (T1.4)
- Machchangoalhi Dhekunu 3 (T12.3)
- Maafannu Hulhagu 3 (T16.3)
- Maafannu Dhekunu 3 (T17.3)
Of these boxes, Azima won the two boxes from her native Maafannu with the largest margin. But the MDP won a total majority of Maafannu by a large margin.
While it was in government, the MDP won very few boxes in Male' in the September 30 presidential election last year. The PNC won 54 percent of Male' in that election. However, the picture in Male' has changed three months later. The PNC won only 29 percent in yesterday's election.
At a press conference after yesterday's defeat, PNC Chairperson Abdul Raheem Abdulla said the leadership was unable to focus enough on the campaign.
"We lost this election because of not giving the attention needed for this election as we had to be engaged in government work," he said.
But government officials have been saying on social media that the results do not show the level of support for President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, noting the low turnout in the election.
Asked whether the defeat was due to the absence of former President Abdulla Yameen since it was the first election faced without the former leader, Abdul Raheem said he did not believe that was the case.
The voter turnout could have been improved if the campaign had been conducted closer to grassroots members, which was the main reason for the defeat, he said.
"We apologize very much for not keeping the close relations that should have been kept with regular members," Abdul Raheem said.
The opposition MDP's candidate Adam Azim, former managing director of the Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC) during the party's government, was elected as mayor of Male' in yesterday's by-election with 44.8 percent of the vote.
The ruling PNC candidate Azima Shukoor came second with 29.6 percent of the vote. Democrats' candidate Mohamed Saif Fathih finished third with 13.8 percent followed by the candidate endorsed by President Yameen, former Police Commissioner Hussain Waheed, with 11.1 percent.
