The by-election for the Hithadhoo North constituency in Addu City serves as powerful evidence of the public's growing resentment toward the influence of President Mohamed Muizzu’s administration, Velidhoo MP Mohamed Abbas has said.
Criticizing the government's policies following the ruling People’s National Congress (PNC) defeat in the Hithadhoo North seat, Abbas questioned the effectiveness of the cabinet and senior officials camping in Hithadhoo for a month.
"Did you think emptying bags of black money and showering jobs would let you buy the people of Hithadhoo? What you witnessed today must be a very painful sight," he wrote in a post on X.
According to the provisional results of the Hithadhoo North by-election, the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) candidate and former Addu Mayor Abdulla Sodiq (Sobe) secured 1,375 votes, while the PNC candidate Ahmed Saeed (Soda) received 1,313 votes.
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MDP candidate Abdulla Sodiq won the Hithadhoo North by-election and pledged to hold the government accountable in Parliament. He attributed his victory to party unity and described the result as a mandate against the current administration's influence. Sodiq aims to address both local issues in Addu City and broader national concerns.
Abbas further said the result is a clear indication of the lack of public support for Muizzu and a firm response from the citizens against the government’s attempts to exert undue influence.
Abbas further noted that the steadfastness and courage shown by the people of Addu serve as an exemplary model for the entire country. He emphasized that the residents of Addu proved they would not be swayed by money or intimidated by threats of job termination.
