The ruling People’s National Congress (PNC) has decided to field incumbent Moolakede councillor Ahmed Saeed as its candidate for the upcoming Hithadhoo North parliamentary by-election, following the withdrawal of former MP Mohamed Sinan.

The by-election was necessitated after the Supreme Court of the Maldives ruled that Sinan had lost his parliamentary seat due to a debt-related matter. Although Sinan had secured the party’s nomination through an internal primary, he later decided not to contest the seat.

Speaking at a press conference, PNC Vice President and Minister of Fisheries and Ocean Resources Ahmed Shiyam said the party opted to nominate Saeed directly due to time constraints in holding another primary. He added that the decision was taken to ensure continuity in the party’s campaign efforts ahead of the election.

In a statement shared on social media, Sinan said that after consultations with constituents, he believed stepping aside would improve the party’s chances of retaining the seat. He expressed gratitude to the party leadership for their support and confirmed that he would remain actively involved in campaigning for the PNC candidate.

The Elections Commission of Maldives stated the Hithadhoo North by-election is scheduled for June 6, with the deadline for candidate nominations set for 3:00 p.m. on April 2.