Aspiring candidate for Rumphi Central constituency in the forthcoming by-elections Yelemia Chihana has been dealt a big blow as the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) said he can not contest under the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).
Chihana, who lost in the parliamentary election for Mzimba Kafukule Constituency under the Alliance for Democracy (Aford), changed allegiance to DPP to contest in the forthcoming by-elections.
Rumphi Central seat fell vacant after his brother, Aford president Enock Chihana, who won the Rumphi Central seat, was appointed as Second Vice-President by President Peter Mutharika—fulfilling a pre-election agreement under the Blue Alliance.
Announcing the dates for the by-elections, MEC chairperson Annabel Mtalimanja emphasized that candidates who were duly nominated in the 16 September general elections will not be allowed to switch political party allegiance.
“Similarly, political parties that sponsored a candidate in the last year’s general election will not be allowed to replace their candidates,” she said
This means that Chihana will only be eligible to contest either as an independent candidate or under the sponsorship of a political party that did not field a candidate in the 2025 general elections.
During the general elections last year, Alick Yagontha Munthali contested as a DPP candidate for the constituency.
