Abdulla Sodiq from the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has won the parliamentary by-election for the vacant Hithadhoo North constituency.

According to preliminary results released by the Elections Commission, Sodiq defeated Ahmed Saeed, who was running under the ruling People's National Congress (PNC) banner.

Sodiq received 1,375 votes, while Saeed secured 1,313 votes, accounting for 51.15% of the total votes.

The Hithadhoo North seat became vacant after the Supreme Court ruled that former MP Mohamed Sinan of the PNC had lost his seat for failing to pay a debt determined by a court judgment.

Although Saeed led in four out of the seven ballot boxes, Sodiq gained larger margins in the other three boxes, ultimately winning the election. Saeed won the ballot boxes at Hithadhoo School in Addu City and two out of five boxes in Addu. Sodiq, on the other hand, claimed victories in one ballot box in Malé and two in Addu, including the largest margin of victory in the election.

Voting was originally scheduled to end at 4:00 p.m., but the Elections Commission extended polling by one hour, closing at 5:00 p.m.

A total of 2,730 voters participated, representing a turnout of 66.25% of the 4,121 eligible voters.

Sodiq was the uncontested nominee for the MDP, as no other candidates sought the party's ticket.

On the PNC side, Saeed entered the race after Mohamed Sinan, who had won the party's primary, decided not to contest the by-election following the loss of his parliamentary seat. The party nominated Saeed due to time constraints preventing another primary.

The victory boosts the opposition's representation in the People's Majlis and reassigns the Hithadhoo North seat to the opposition party.