The Maldives National Party (MNP) has announced that a party candidate will be contesting the up-coming  by-election of the Guraidhoo Constituency Parliament seat.

MNP stated that it has opened up the opportunity for party member to express their interest, and said that the party will be holding by-election primary on 10th March 2023.

The Elections Commission of the Maldives (ECM) will hold the by-election for Guraidhoo Constituency on April 15.

The ruling MDP will be holding party primary for the by-election on March 11. Four candidates have so far applied for the primary, MDP announced.

The Guraidhoo seat fell vacant after the MP Ibrahim Riza passed away in Malaysia on February 22. MP Riza was receiving treatment for Cancer illness for a long period of time, and  passed away while undergoing treatment for cancer.

MP Riza was a member of the main opposition Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) and also a Senator offor the party.

He had previously served as a member of 18th parliament  from 2014–2019. During former President Abdulla Yameen’s administration, he served as a member of the Judicial Service Commission (JSC), on behalf of the then ruling party PPM.

Other than MDP and MNP, main opposition party, Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) have also decided to contest for the seat.