Peter says JB has no mandate to annull elections

Opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) presidential candidate Peter Mutharika who leading in the May 20-22 presidential race —according to unofficial results—has dismissed the order by Malawi President Joyce Banda to nullify the elections.

Banda today called for press conference where announced the annulling of this week’s general election— in which she was a candidate—because of voting “irregularities”. She said her decision was backed by the Section 88 (2) of the Malawi Constitution.

But Mutharika, who has been a professor of law at Washington University, dismissed the order, saying President Banda has no mandate to nullify the election.

“I would appeal to the president to ask people to be calm. I hope she abandons the path she is taking,” said Mutharika at a news conference at his Nyambadwe home.

He said powers to manage the elections rests with the independent Malawi Electoral Commission and that Constituion gives the electoral body the powers to annull the polls.

Mutharika commended Justice Maxon Mbendera, the MEC Chairperson, saying he is “a man of great intergrity” and that despite challenges “he is doing his best.”

Meanwhile, Attorney General Anthony Kamanga said has told Nation Online provided legal advise to the president on the path to take.

“I provided my advice. But as you know, my job as Attorney General is to give advice; it is not to compel the one I am advising to follow my advice. The choice of whether or not to follow my advice is with the client, not with the Attorney General,” said Kamanga.

Zodiak Broadcasting Station (ZBS) a private radio accredited by MEC to cover the polls, puts Mutharika as winner with 1 789 364 votes followed by Malawi Congress Party (MCP) candidate Lazarus Chakwera who polled 1 387 500 votes.

People’s Party candidate Joyce Banda got 1 042 686 votes, while Atupele Muluzi of the United Democratic Front (UDF) got 665 819 votes.

But the nation awaits for the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC), the only authority with the legal mandate to officially announce electoral outcomes in Malawi.

If Mutharika wins this election he will become the country’s fifth Head of State.

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