Namibia’s main opposition party, the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC), has taken legal action, filing a case with the electoral court to access detailed vote tallies from last month’s elections amid allegations of irregularities.
The IPC has rejected the election results, which were marred by logistical and technical setbacks, including delays and disruptions that extended voting by two days. Some voters were unable to cast their ballots on November 27 due to these issues.
The ruling SWAPO party, which has led Namibia since its independence 34 years ago, was declared the victor. Its presidential candidate, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, received 57% of the votes, while the IPC’s candidate, Panduleni Itula, secured 25.5%.
In its court submission, the IPC alleged “clear irregularities” in the electoral process and called on the court to compel the electoral commission to release comprehensive vote tallies from all four days of voting. The party stated that the information is crucial to assess the scale of discrepancies and determine whether to formally challenge the election’s validity.
The electoral commission has acknowledged several issues, including malfunctioning electronic tablets and a shortage of ballot papers, which caused delays of up to 12 hours at polling stations. Many voters reportedly left before casting their ballots. The IPC has accused the commission of intentionally creating these obstacles to suppress voter turnout, further questioning the credibility of the process.
As the court considers the IPC’s petition, the dispute over Namibia’s election highlights the challenges of ensuring transparency and fairness in the democratic process.