The opposition PPM/PNC candidate Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has defeated the incumbent President Ibrahim Mohammed Solih in the second round of the presidential election held today.

With the interim results of the elections pouring in, Dr. Muizzu has been elected as the 8th President of the Maldives.

According to the results of the boxes announced so far, Dr. Muizzu is leading over President Solih by more than 16,000 votes. More than 530 ballot boxes have so far received provisional results.

So far, Dr. Muizz has received more than 111,500 votes from counting boxes, which is 54 per cent, while President Solih has received more than 95,400 votes, which is 46 per cent.

After Dr. Mohamed Muizzu was confirmed to have won the election, PPM/PNC supporters gathered outside the PPM office to celebrate, while supporters were shouting slogans demanding the release of former president Abdulla Yameen, who is serving a prison term for money laundering.

Following the election victory, Dr. Muizzu is scheduled to address the media at 10 pm. The press conference will be held at H. Meerumaa hall.

EC President Fuad Taufeeq said in a tweet last night that of the 245,390 eligible voters, 86.77 percent voted - a total of 221,496 voters.