Democratic Republic of Congo’s constitutional court has upheld the victory of opposition presidential candidate Felix Tshisekedi.
The court dismissed an appeal by Martin Fayulu, another opposition contender challenging the outcome of the elections held on December 30, 2018.
DRC’s electoral commission on January 9 declared Tshisekedi as the winner of the disputed elections.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) said Tshisekedi secured over 7 Million votes, whereas Fayulu had 6.4 million votes. The ruling coalition’s Shadary secured 4.4 million votes.
Despite the court ruling, Fayulu maintained he won the elections declaring himself as the “legitimate” president.
He is urging the international community not to recognise the official election result.
The court’s ruling comes days after the African Union expressed doubts over the credibility of the elections results.
According to the court, Fayulu failed to prove the election commission had announced false results.
It thus, upheld “Felix Tshisekedi president of the Democratic Republic of Congo by simple majority”.
He is now expected to be sworn in within 10 days.
Based on the court’s affirmation of the results, Tshisekedi is the first opposition candidate to win such a vote since DR Congo gained independence.
He is the son of a late veteran opposition leader, Etienne Tshisekedi. Until his death, he was the face of the DRC’s opposition for decades.
Tshisekedi refused to back Fayulu ahead of the election after withdrawing from an agreement to back the opposition coalition’s candidate.
He will now replace President Joseph Kabila who had been in power for 18 years.
President Joseph Kabila did not take part in the December 30 election.
Kabila took over as president from his father Laurent who was assassinated in 2001.
He frustrated the holding of the election which had to be delayed for several years.
Source: Africafeeds.com
