Wednesday 18 Mar 2026
Ismail Zariyandh attends a campaign event in Male' City on February 13, 2026: Zariyandh has filed a police case over "theft" of campaign posters. (Photo/PNF)
Ismail Zariyandh, an independent candidate competing for the Male' mayoral position, has officially lodged a police complaint alleging that his campaign posters in Hulhumale' were stolen. Zariyandh claims that individuals observed in Housing Development Corporation (HDC) uniforms were responsible for the removal of materials from private properties. This development occurs against a backdrop of intensifying political rivalry between the ruling People's National Congress and the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party. The HDC has previously faced criticism for removing opposition campaign materials under the pretext of permit violations, leading Zariyandh to call on the administration to uphold democratic values.
Ismail Zariyandh, an independent candidate contesting for Male’ mayorship in the upcoming Local Council elections, has filed a police case over theft of his campaign posters.
Zariyandh, via a post on X on Monday night, said his campaign posters in Hulhumale’ were removed by “a group of people in Housing Development Corporation (HDC) uniform”.
He added that he has filed a police case over the “theft” of his posters put up at private properties of his supporters.
ހުޅުމާލޭގައި ހުރި އަޅުގަނޑުގެ ކެމްޕޭން ޕޯސްޓަރުތައް "އެޗްޑީސީ" ހެދުމުގައި ތިބި ބަޔަކު މެދުވެރިކޮށް "ސިއްރިއްޔާތުގައި" ނަގާފައިވުމާއި، ސަޕޯޓަރުންގެ އަމިއްލަ ބިންތަކުގައި ހުރި ޕޯސްޓަރުތަކެއްވެސް ވަގަށްނެގި މައްސަލަ މިހާރުވާނީ ފުލުހުންނަށް ހުށަހަޅާފައެވެ.
— Ismail Zariyand (@zariyand) March 16, 2026
މި ޒަމާނުގައި ހުދުމުޙުތާރު…
Contesting the mayoral position with backing from former president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom, Zariyandh called on President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu to respect democratic values and prayed that the government has the mental resilience needed for democratic governance.
While Zariyandh has reported the theft of his posters to the authorities, the Housing Development Corporation (HDC), which oversees Hulhumalé, has removed campaign posters put up by the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) for the upcoming council elections, citing failure to obtain the necessary permits.
Fathimath Zahiyya (Zaya), the MDP candidate for North Hulhumalé, claimed that her poster had been removed and replaced with one promoting a candidate from the ruling People’s National Congress (PNC).
Furthermore, a video shared on X by Dhauru journalist Muzayyin Nazim shows HDC employees removing MDP posters from public areas.
Political competition between the ruling PNC and opposition MDP has intensified as the Local Council Elections near.
