In the recent by-elections held for local councils and Women’s Development Committees (WDC), none of the independent candidates backed by former President Abdulla Yameen managed to secure a single seat. Ismail Zariyand, who contested for the Male’ City Mayoral seat with Yameen’s endorsement, finished in third place, securing only 20.52% of the total votes. The election was won by the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) candidate Adam Azim, while the ruling People’s National Congress (PNC) candidate, Moosa Ali Jaleel, followed in second place.
Observers have alleged that Yameen’s decision to field his own candidates was a strategic move aimed at splitting the PNC vote base, thereby paving the way for an MDP victory. This latest outcome follows a consistent pattern of political setbacks for Yameen-backed candidates, who have faced similar defeats in previous parliamentary elections and other by-elections.
