Malawi Constitutional Court nullifies May presidential election results
Tuesday, February 4th, 2020 11:28 | By
Saulos Chilima (Front), United Transformation Movement (UTM) party President and other petitioners in the presidential elections case are seen outside a court in Lilongwe, Malawi, Feb. 3, 2020. (Xinhua/Kenneth Jali)
LILONGWE,
Malawi Constitution Court on Monday nullified the May presidential election results which declared the incumbent president Peter Mutharika winner.
The court, sitting in Malawi capital, Lilongwe, observed that the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) flouted a number of electoral procedures as stipulated in the Presidential and Parliamentary Elections Act (PPEA) and the constitution of Malawi.
"The court's final determination is that petitions to have the presidential election nullified met both the qualitative and quantitative tests of the court," said Judge Healy Potani, the President Judge of the panel of five judges that presided over the case.
"The irregularities and anomalies were so wide spread, systematic and grave that the integrity of the results were compromised," said the judge.
The court has since ordered that fresh election be done in 150 days including weekends.
Meanwhile, the court has reinstated President Mutharika and his former vice president, Saulos Chilima, in their former positions before the May 2019 poll until the fresh election is held. (Xinhua)
