Addu City Mayor Ali Nizar has welcomed the decision to separate Hulhudhoo and Meedhoo from Addu City Council (the results of the referendum taken to decide Addu City Council jurisdiction), describing the outcome as deeply emotional.
In Saturday’s referendum, residents of Hulhudhoo and Meedhoo voted to form independent councils, while Feydhoo chose to remain under Addu City Council.
In a Facebook post, Nizar expressed hope that the administrative separation would resolve long-standing grievances in Hulhudhoo and Meedhoo. He emphasized that the outcome would not affect the relationship between communities.
 “There will be no change in the relationship between the people of Hulhudhoo and Meedhoo after this election, and there will be no discrimination,” he said.
Nizar called on all residents of Addu to unite for the city’s development.
 “The administrative separation of Hulhudhoo-Addu and Meedhoo-Addu should not change the long-standing friendship and brotherhood between the people. I wish the whole of Addu to join hands for the development of Addu.”
He also thanked Feydhoo residents for voting to stay under the city council, calling the decision vital for Addu’s continued progress.
 “Thank you to all those who worked for this despite their political ideologies,” Nizar added.
Addu Hithadhoo Central MP Ahmed Azaan Marzooq also welcomed both outcomes Feydhoo’s decision to remain and Hulhudhoo/Meedhoo’s move to separate.
It is noteworthy that voter turnout was low, with less than two-thirds of eligible voters participating in the referendum.