The ruling People’s National Congress (PNC) has achieved a significant victory in the 2026 Local Council Elections, securing control over the Maldives’ most prominent guesthouse tourism hubs. This shift marks a notable change in the political landscape of islands that have historically served as strongholds for the opposition.

In AA. Thoddoo, the PNC gained full control of the council for the first time in two decades. The party’s candidate, Adam Naveen, successfully won the seat for Council President, defeating Hussain Hanif of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP). This victory concludes a 20-year period where the PNC had struggled to gain a foothold in the agriculture and tourism hub.

The ruling party also claimed victory in K. Maafushi, where Ali Waheed was elected as Council President. This loss is particularly significant for the MDP, as the incumbent President Hassan Salah had campaigned extensively with the support of MDP founder and former President Mohamed Nasheed. Furthermore, in AA. Ukulhas, long-term incumbent Shaukat Ibrahim, who served four consecutive terms, was unseated by the PNC’s candidate, signaling a broad transition of power across the tourism sector.