MDP changes location of polling stations to schools after Meekail raises fairness concerns

The Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) changed the location of some of the polling stations in its upcoming chairperson elections to schools on Tuesday, a day after South Galolhu MP Meekail Ahmed Naseem raised concerns that conducting voting in party centers could undermine the fairness of the election.

In a letter addressed to the party’s interim chairperson Abdul Ghafoor Moosa (Gapo) on Monday, Meekail said that while the elections committee has decided to conduct polling in islands at local schools, the chair of the committee had decided unilaterally to conduct voting in four islands in MDP party centers.

The islands in question are:

• F. Feeali
• L. Isdhoo-Kalaidhoo
• L. Mathimaradhoo
• GA. Vilingili

އެމްޑީޕީގެ ޗެއަރޕާސަން އިންތިހާބު ގެ އިންސާފުވެރިކަން ގެއްލޭގޮތަށް އިންތިހާބާ ބެހޭ ކޮމިޓީއިން އަމަލު ކުރާތީ، އެކަމާ ގުޅޭ ކަންބޮޑުވުން @MDPSecretariat އަށް ހިއްސާކޮށްފިން. އަވަސް ހައްލެއް ގެނެސްދޭނެކަމަށް އުއްމީދުކުރަން. pic.twitter.com/E6j40Tptg1

— Meekail Naseem (@MickailNaseem) June 8, 2026

Following the complaint, the MDP announced changes to the location of polling stations in the four islands on Tuesday.

As per the changes:

• Ballot boxes for Feeali constituency will be placed at the F. Atoll School
• Ballot boxes for Isdhoo-Kalaidhoo constituency will be placed at Isdhoo School and Isdhoo-Kalaidhoo School
• Ballot boxes for Mathimaradhoo constituency will be placed at Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani School
• Ballot boxes for Vilingili constituency will be placed at the GA. Education Center

In Monday’s letter, Meekail stressed that the decision to conduct polling at schools was made to ensure the fairness of the election.

He said that he found the unilateral decision to conduct polling at local party centers instead deeply concerning.

The main opposition party is scheduled to hold its chairpersonship election Friday. The tight race is being contested by Meekail and former Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed. A third candidate, Ibrahim Waheed (Waadu) later dropped out of the race and endorsed Meekail.

The former Maldivian leader has allied with former party chairperson Fayyaz Ismail to campaign under the slogan ‘Bodu Badhalu’ or ‘Big Change,’ while Meekail is running for chair with the backing of former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih under the slogan ‘Ithubaaru’ or ‘Trust.’