Thulhaadhoo by-election cancelled

The Elections Commission (EC) has cancelled a by-election it announced in July to replace a Thulhaadhoo councillor after the High Court ruled that the dismissal of Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) Councillor Umaira Abubakur was unlawful.

Sun Online reported that EC Chair Fuad Thaufeeq confirmed the by-election scheduled for September 20 has been cancelled.

Umair, the sole DRP representative on the five-member council, was dismissed by four Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) councillors after she ostensibly failed to attend ten consecutive meetings, six of which were emergency meetings called in her absence.

Umaira was reportedly participating in a training programme for newly-elected councillors.