Khadheeja beats Saif for North Machchangoalhi ticket

MDP activist Khadheeja Mohamed (Hajja) has beaten North Galolhu Council Member and former candidate for Mayor of Male' Saif Fathih (Aiko) for the North Machchangoalhi ticket during yesterday's MDP primary for the Local Council Election.

126 people had voted in North Machchangoalhi. Khadheeja got 85 votes with Saif receiving 32 votes, with 9 votes being invalid.

Member Saif accepted his defeat and congratulated Khadheeja on her win.

Upon winning the primary, Khadheeja told Mihaaru News that she did not expect to win against a strong candidate such as Saif and produce such a result.

However, she expressed gratitude after visiting the houses of locals and gaining their trust during her campaigning phase.

Saif had run for the position of Mayor of Male' on behalf of The Democrats, a party that had formed when MDP had split during the previous Presidential Election. Current Mayor Azim had secured 7,000 votes at the election, with Saif receiving more than 2,000 votes, putting him in third place. 

Before the primary, Saif had reconnected with MDP in December.

MDP's primary this time around is also seeing major competition towards the Mayor of Male' ticket. Current Mayor of Male' Adam Azim and former Central Henveiru MP Ali Azim ran as candidates for the position.

However, Adam Azim secured the ticket with a landslide victory. And so, while Ali Azim had called Adam Azim to congratulate him, Ali Azim said that he would still aid MDP in winning the mayoral seat.