Namibia’s Opposition Rejects Election Results Amid Allegations of Malpractice

Namibia’s main opposition party, the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC), has declared that it will not recognize the results of the ongoing general election, citing allegations of significant irregularities.

In a press conference on Saturday, IPC leader and presidential candidate Panduleni Itula accused the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) of “glaring and undeniable” malpractices. He criticized the logistical challenges that plagued the voting process, including shortages of ballot papers and technical malfunctions, which caused voting to extend beyond the initial Wednesday schedule in some areas.

“We shall not, under any circumstances, recognize the outcome of the 2024 election… that is still, in our opinion, illegitimately continuing,” said Itula. Despite rejecting the results, he urged supporters to remain calm and pledged to seek justice through the courts.

The IPC has also encouraged citizens who were unable to vote due to electoral mismanagement to report their grievances to the police.

Preliminary results from 10 of Namibia’s 121 constituencies show Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, the candidate for the ruling South West Africa People’s Organisation (Swapo), leading with 48% of the vote, compared to Itula’s 30%.

Nandi-Ndaitwah, who is poised to become Namibia’s first female president, needs more than 50% of the votes to secure an outright victory. If no candidate surpasses this threshold, a second-round run-off will be required.

Namibia, a sprawling country with a population of about three million, faced logistical hurdles during the election. Approximately half of the population is registered to vote, and challenges in remote areas contributed to delays in the voting process.

As the vote count continues, the IPC’s allegations and refusal to accept the results raise questions about the election’s legitimacy and could lead to a prolonged political standoff