Although the ruling People’s National Congress (PNC) has passed a resolution to elect its vice presidents through an open vote, it has emerged that the party’s basic regulation registered with the Elections Commission (EC) mandates a secret ballot for such appointments.
In a statement released yesterday, the PNC maintained that it is operating in accordance with its basic regulation registered at the EC. The party claimed that, under these rules, the election of vice presidents must be conducted via an open vote.
"Article 69(a) of the party’s basic regulation states that voting on matters within the party’s Supreme Council shall be conducted by a show of hands. Furthermore, Article 69(b) specifies that an open vote shall be taken to elect members to the party’s legislative body within the Supreme Council," the PNC statement read.
While the version of the basic regulation currently available on the PNC’s website aligns with the party’s statement calling for an open vote, a review by Adhadhu today found a discrepancy. The official basic regulation endorsed by the Elections Commission and hosted on the commission's website explicitly states that a secret ballot is required to elect vice presidents.
"Voting to pass matters within the party’s Supreme Council shall be by a show of hands. However, a secret ballot shall be taken to elect members to the legislative body within the party’s Supreme Council," the regulation states.
The basic regulation currently published on the PNC website claims to have been amended by the party’s consultative committee on May 15, 2025. However, checks by Adhadhu revealed that as recently as January 2026, this purported amended version had not been uploaded to the site.
On May 15, 2025, the PNC Senate held a meeting where two individuals were appointed to vice-presidential roles. However, there was no public announcement at the time indicating that a consultative committee meeting had been held to amend the basic regulation.
In its statement yesterday, the PNC denied that its election organizing committee had made a decision to opt for an open ballot. But two senior PNC officials who spoke to Adhadhu confirmed that the committee had decided to proceed with an open vote.
"If the basic regulation was already that clear, there would be no need for the committee to decide on an open vote. Yet, the committee made that exact decision," a senior PNC official said on condition of anonymity.
According to the PNC’s basic regulation, the party must elect six vice presidents. So far, seven members have expressed interest in the positions: MP Ibrahim Shujau, MP Fathimath Saudha, MP Asma Rasheed, Government Spokesperson Mohamed Hussain Shareef, Economic Minister Mohamed Saeed, Fisheries Minister Ahmed Shiyam, and Sports Minister Abdulla Rafiu.
The PNC’s basic regulation stipulates that when the party is in power, the President of the Republic serves as the party’s top leader and President. The Party President also holds the highest authority over policy formulation and administrative operations.
