Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) Chairperson Fayyaz Ismail has called for a legal solution to address Addu City’s governance concerns, warning against a rushed referendum that could deepen existing frustrations.
His remarks come ahead of a public vote scheduled for October 25, which will ask residents of Feydhoo, Hulhudhoo, and Meedhoo whether they support forming separate councils for their islands. The referendum was announced by President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu on September 17, and is the first to be held under the newly enacted Public Referendum Act.
In a post on X, Fayyaz said he had met with MDP members in Addu and found widespread uncertainty about the referendum’s implications.
 “People have many questions. Will the result of the referendum solve the suffering of the people? Or will it increase suffering?” he asked.
Fayyaz urged the government to clearly explain the consequences of the vote and suggested that the issue could be resolved through legislative amendments rather than a divisive ballot.
“The vote should also ask the people’s views on resolving the problem by law and keeping all the islands together as they are now,” he said.
His concerns echo those raised by civil society groups including Transparency Maldives, Project ThimaaVeshi, Maldives Local Councils Association, and Zero Waste Maldives, who issued a joint statement criticizing the referendum’s tight timeline, limited voter inclusion, and lack of public consultation.
The groups warned that the vote could reshape Addu’s governance, affecting local representation, resource allocation, and service delivery, while excluding residents of Hithadhoo, Maradhoo, and Maradhoo-Feydhoo, despite the city-wide impact.
 
The Election Commission (EC) has defended the process, stating that administrative preparations are nearly complete, with 18 polling stations set up across Addu and Male'. The final results are expected to be announced the day after the vote.