The High Court in Malawi has thrown out President Lazarus Chakwera’s urgent petition seeking to block the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) from declaring the results of the September 16 presidential election.
The ruling clears the path for the commission to formally announce former President Arthur Peter Mutharika as the winner.
With results from 24 out of 36 councils tallied, Mutharika holds a commanding lead with 66.7 percent of the 3.2 million valid votes counted so far, translating to about 2.1 million votes.
Chakwera, who was seeking a second term, trails significantly and would require an extraordinary reversal in the remaining 12 councils to change the outcome.
Voter turnout has been reported at around 4.6 million out of 7.2 million registered voters. The MEC is expected to complete the tally and issue the final declaration soon, making Mutharika’s return to power official.
The court’s decision marks a turning point in the tightly contested poll, with local and international observers now calling for calm as the country prepares for a political transition.