MDP primary: 129 candidates will compete

Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has officially announced that 129 candidates will compete in its primary to secure the party’s ticket for the upcoming Local Council Elections. 

The opposition party is currently preparing for the primary vote, which is scheduled to take place on January 16, 2026. This internal election aims to finalize the candidates who will represent the MDP in the nationwide local government and Women’s Development Committee (WDC) elections.

According to the list released by the MDP, the 129 candidates are vying for positions across various administrative divisions. Specifically, 92 candidates have applied to represent the party in 25 different islands, while 37 candidates are competing for seats in the Maldives' five designated cities. 

Additionally, 23 women are contesting for the MDP ticket for the Women’s Development Committees, 15 from the atolls and 8 from the capital, Malé. While some candidates have already secured their tickets without needing to contest a primary, the party has yet to release the specific details of those uncontested wins.

The Local Council and WDC elections are set for April 4, 2026. A total of 1,362 positions will be filled across the country, with 681 seats available in both the local councils and the women's committees. 

As the MDP gears up for its mid-January primary, the ruling People’s National Congress (PNC) has also announced that its own internal primary will be held much sooner, on December 27, 2025, signaling an active start to the local election season.