Leader of the opposition party, Adalberto Costa Jr. File picture
THE ANGOLAN opposition does not recognise the results of the general elections and demands the creation of an independent commission to verify the results, the leader of the opposition party, Adalberto Costa Jr, said on the weekend.
"The National Union for the Total Independence of Angola does not recognise the preliminary results published by the National Election Commission ... The Unita leadership calls on the National Election Commission, for the sake of truth, to agree to the creation of a commission with the participation of international observers to compare the consolidated protocols available to the commission with the final protocols of political parties," Costa Jr posted on social media.
General elections were held in Angola last week and the commission announced preliminary results after processing 97.03% of the ballots, according to which the ruling People's Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) party won, securing 51.07% of the votes. In accordance with the Angolan law, the leader of the winning party, incumbent President Joao Lorenco, keeps the top office.
Unita has repeatedly claimed that the electoral process, which was monitored by about 1,300 domestic and foreign observers, was flawed.
Unita spokesperson Mihaela Weba said that her party would only accept the results if they matched the polling-station records in its possession.
– SPUTNIK