Former MP Mohamed Sinan has secured the People’s National Congress (PNC) ticket for North Hithadhoo after winning the party’s primary held to select a candidate for the upcoming by-election.

Sinan defeated Ahmed Saeed, current Councillor of the Hithadhoo Moolekede constituency, securing 226 votes compared to Saeed’s 187 votes.

In the Malé ballot box, Sinan received 59 votes while Saeed secured 37 votes. There were 7 invalid votes, bringing the total to 103 votes. In Addu, Sinan received 167 votes and Saeed 150 votes, with 2 invalid votes out of a total of 319 votes.

A total of 727 party members were eligible to vote in the primary, of which 422 cast their ballots, representing a turnout of 58 per cent.

PNC Elections Committee member and Hajj Corporation Managing Director Mohamed Shakeel said the party remains confident of securing the North Hithadhoo seat, adding that the turnout reflects strong participation in the internal process.

The by-election for North Hithadhoo constituency is scheduled for 6 June, as announced by the Elections Commission. The deadline for submitting candidacy applications is 29 April at 3:00pm.