PNC Parliamentary Group Leader Ibrahim Falah has stated that following the results of today's Addu Hithadhoo North by-election, claims that the constituency is a stronghold of the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) have come to an end.

The by-election for the Hithadhoo Uthuru constituency was won by a narrow margin by MDP candidate and former Mayor of Addu City, Abdulla Sodiq (Sobe). According to provisional results, Sodiq secured 1,375 votes while PNC candidate Ahmed Saeed received 1,313 votes—winning by a margin of 62 votes.

In a post on X tonight, Falah highlighted that all of MDP's top leaders and presidential candidates—including Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, Mohamed Nasheed, Fahyaz Ismail, Abdulla Shahid, and Adam Azim—along with Mohamed Aslam, who represented Hithadhoo North for his entire life, campaigned collectively in Hithadhoo.

He added that even former President Abdulla Yameen, who had previously claimed he would never collaborate with MDP, extended his support to the opposition's campaign. Despite this consolidated effort, Falah emphasized that the residents of Addu soundly defeated Sodiq—who served three terms as the city's mayor—at the ballot boxes placed within Addu.

"The residents living in Addu are sending a clear message that the MDP leadership has failed and has neglected Addu. They are also signaling that there is no place for Yameen in Addu, telling them not to return," Falah said.

Falah noted that the PNC candidate secured substantial leads in four out of the seven ballot boxes set up for the election, which he stated demonstrates the ruling party's strong popularity among the residents of Addu and reflects their deep trust and love for President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu.

He further declared that by 2028, Addu will completely transform into a PNC stronghold.

The Hithadhoo North by-election was triggered following a Supreme Court ruling that vacated the seat. The court had declared the seat vacant after finding that the constituency's sitting MP at the time, Mohamed Sinan, had an outstanding proven debt.