1st LD: Zanzibar electoral body nullifies election results
Xinhua, October 28, 2015 Adjust font size:
The Zanzibar electoral body on Wednesday announced the nullification of elections in the archipelago, saying the polls held on Sunday were faced with irregularities.
Jecha Salum Jecha, the chairman of the Zanzibar Electoral Commission (ZEC), said the elections were nullified following breach of electoral laws and regulations.
"Due to powers conferred on me, I officially declare that this election and its results are nullified and there is a need to repeat the whole exercise," Jecha was quoted by the Zanzibar Broadcasting Corporation.
He nullified elections for the presidency and that of the House of Representatives, adding to the growing political crisis in the islands that were united with Tanganyika in 1964 to form the United Republic of Tanzania.
The nullification of the elections came as the Islands were awaiting the announcement of the winner of the hotly contested presidential race.
It also came in the face of Monday's declaration by leading opposition Civic United Front (CUF) presidential candidate Seif Sharif Hamad that he had won the vote counting done by his own tallies.
Hamad was facing incumbent President Ali Mohamed Shein who was running on the ticket of the ruling party-Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM).
Jecha could not mention the date for the re-run of the elections. Endit