MDP open for primary of Guraidhoo constituency

Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) on Monday opened application to contest in the primary for the Parliament seat of K.Guraidhoo constituency.

In an announcement made by the party, it was stated that a primary will be held on March 11, in order to determine a candidate that will be representing the party in the primary elections. 

Additionally, it noted that application was open from now onwards till 1600 hrs of March 2.

Any member of MDP interested in contesting the election was to put forth applications along with 100 signatures in their support.

Election Commission (EC) had earlier announced that the by-election will be held on April 15. 

The Guraidhoo seat was left vacant following the he death of MP Ibrahim Riza on February 23. He passed at the age of 55, in Malaysia, after a two year long battle with cancer.

Riza, an attorney-at-law, had served at the Parliament for 13 consecutive years. He had been a member of multiple parliamentary committees, including the independent institutions committee, judiciary committee, and security services committee.

He had also served as vice president of the Judicial Service Commission during former president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom’s administration.

Riza had been elected to the Parliament as an independent candidate in 2009. He later joined the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM).