News Desk
The Vice President of the People’s National Congress and Minister of Fisheries, Agriculture and Ocean Resources, Ahmed Shiyam, has said the PNC received a “B report” in the local council and women’s development committee elections held on the 4th of this month. He made the remarks while addressing supporters at a rally in Male’ held to celebrate the party’s victories in the island of Muraidhoo.
Shiyam said the results showed that the PNC remained the most widely supported political movement in the country, winning the highest number of seats nationwide. He said the party’s strength lay in its connection to island communities and its commitment to serving every constituency without discrimination.
“The PNC will not differentiate between small islands and large islands. Every island matters to the party,” he said. He added that President Dr Mohamed Muizzu had already begun responding to the message delivered by voters.
According to Shiyam, the President’s reaction to the results reflected responsible leadership. “By the end of the election, the President said that the people had spoken. He said that he had heard the voice of the people and started working from that moment on. This is the most beautiful scene in a democracy,” he said.
Shiyam said President Muizzu wanted an “A report” and had accepted the outcome with sincerity. He said the President had shown that listening to the public was central to his administration’s approach.
Shiyam also criticised the former government, saying it had failed to act even when serious misconduct occurred within its own ranks. He said ministers who were implicated in wrongdoing were allowed to remain in office without consequence.
“In the last term, even after state funds were stolen, the President did not dare to remove the ministers involved,” he said. “Even when the state coffers were emptied, the government continued to rule with the ministers who were in disgrace.”
He contrasted this with the current administration, saying the PNC government had demonstrated accountability and transparency, and that the public could now trust that elections would not be influenced by those in power.
Shiyam highlighted the high turnout in the local council elections, saying it reflected public confidence in the electoral system under the current government. He said the large number of voters participating in a council election showed that people believed their votes would be counted fairly.
“The people will now be assured that this government will not influence the elections,” he said. He added that the turnout demonstrated the public’s willingness to engage in democratic processes when they trusted the system.
The PNC won 581 seats in the local council and WDC elections, the highest number of seats secured by any party. The MDP won 562 seats, while independents won 168. The MDA secured 23 seats, Adhaalath Party won six, the Jumhooree Party won four, and the Democrats won two.
The PNC led in almost every category outside the five city councils. The party won:
- 75 council president seats
- 101 female‑reserved council seats
- 99 council member seats
- 83 WDC president seats
- 214 WDC member seats
Shiyam said these results showed that the PNC remained the strongest political organisation across the islands. He said the party’s grassroots networks, development policies and community‑level engagement had contributed to its success.
The rally last night drew a large crowd, with supporters waving party flags and chanting slogans in support of President Muizzu. Many said the results reaffirmed their belief that the PNC was delivering on its promises and that the government’s development agenda was moving in the right direction.
Shiyam told supporters that the party would continue to strengthen its presence in every island and ensure that development projects were implemented without delay. He said the PNC’s focus remained on improving services, creating opportunities and addressing the needs of communities across the country.
He said the party would work to turn its “B report” into an “A report” in the next election cycle, and that the President had already begun making adjustments based on the public’s message.
