The ruling People’s National Congress (PNC) has secured the Central Hulhumalé constituency council seat in the recently concluded Local Council and Women’s Development Committee (WDC) elections.

Preliminary results released by the Elections Commission show that PNC candidate Ahmed Saneeh Haneef won the seat.

Saneeh secured 912 votes, defeating the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) candidate, who received 903 votes. An independent candidate contesting in the constituency obtained 188 votes.

While PNC lost several mayoral positions in cities including Malé in this election, the party secured a majority of council seats across many islands.