Elections Commission President Zahid Resigns

The President of the Elections Commission, Mohamed Zahid, has resigned from his position amid growing controversy surrounding the Hithadhoo by-election.

The Elections Commission has confirmed Zahid’s resignation. His decision comes at a time when the commission has been facing significant criticism over its handling of the by-election, particularly the extension of the candidate nomination deadline.

The resignation follows the commission’s decision to extend the deadline for candidate submissions for the Hithadhoo constituency by-election, scheduled for June 6. Initially, the deadline had been set for April 14. However, it was later extended until 3:00 PM on May 2, 2026.

The extension sparked backlash, especially after the PNC reassigned its ticket from its primary winner and former MP Sinan to another candidate, Saeed, who had lost in the primary. Sources told Viraasee that Sinan had expressed dissatisfaction over the matter in messages sent to senior government officials.

On social media, several individuals alleged that the deadline extension was made to allow time for a specific candidate to secure the party ticket. There have also been accusations from opposition figures and members of the public claiming that the government exerted undue influence over the Elections Commission in relation to the by-election.

Zahid was appointed as President of the Elections Commission on February 18 last year. At the time of his resignation, the commission consisted of five members, including the president. However, no specific reason has been officially disclosed by the commission regarding his resignation.