DR Congo Poll: Tshisekedi Re-Elected by Overwhelming Vote

The President of Democratic Republic of Congo, Felix Tshisekedi has been re-elected for a second term.

He was declared winner of the contested election on Sunday with the country’s election commission CENI announcing that he secured more than 73% of the vote in a December 20 vote.

There have been agitations by the opposition who have complained about the conduct of the election.

The election faced several challenges leading to an over-run of the election. Lack of logistics also disrupted the vote.

But Denis Kadima, head of CENI, said President Tshisekedi obtained more than 13 million out of over 18 million valid votes. The turnout was more than 43%, he said.

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Those seeking to challenge the results though have two days to do so at the Constitutional Court. The court would then rule on the case and proclaim the final result in seven days.

Tshisekedi flanked by his wife and mother thanked supporters and promised to deliver faster on his programmes during his second term.

“You believed in my commitment not to spare any effort so that our country will retake its rightful place, and so that the Congolese people will recover their pride and dignity in belonging to this country,” he said.

“You believed in my fight against inequalities that have for a long time characterized our society.”

Meanwhile a group of nine opposition presidential candidates have asked their supporters to take to the streets to protest.

“We categorically reject the sham election … and its results,” the main opposition candidates said in a joint declaration.

“We call on our people to take to the streets en masse after the proclamation of the electoral fraud,” they said.

They have demanded fresh elections to be held with a new electoral body on a date to be agreed by all.

Source: Africafeeds.com