The Elections Commission (EC) has announced that a second round of voting will be held to elect candidates for two council seats and three Women’s Development Committee (WDC) positions.

The Commission said the runoff will be conducted on Saturday, 18 April,  in accordance with the Local Council Elections Act governing the 2026 local council and WDC elections. Preparations are currently underway to hold the second round.

The council seats will be contested in Baa Dhonfan for the women’s seat on the island council, and in the Dhadimagu constituency of Fuvahmulah City for a seat reserved for women. Candidates contesting in Dhonfan are PNC candidate Aishath Munaa and MDP candidate Aminath Rafaah, while the Dhadimagu race will see PNC’s Aishath Abdul Qadir competing against independent candidate Sheeza Ibrahim.

The second round for WDC elections will be held in Haa Alifu Kelaa to elect the committee president, in Haa Dhaalu Neykurendhoo, and in Laamu Maavah for committee membership. In Kelaa, Mahudiyya Adam will contest against PNC candidate Hawwa Fazna. In Neykurendhoo, PNC’s Fathmath Riuza will face independent candidate Fathimath Nishadha. In Maavah, PNC candidate Fathimath Shafiya will compete against MDP candidate Mariyam Maaisha.

The Commission noted that the runoff is required in constituencies where no candidate secured the required majority in the first round. The initial polls, held on April 4, recorded a turnout of over 215,000 voters, representing more than 73 per cent of eligible voters.