High Court Judge Rachel Sikwese has dismissed an application by the Leadership with Compassion Party (LCP) for an order of injunction to restrain the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) from implementing its decision rejecting the nomination of candidates in Karonga by-elections.
During the receipt of nomination papers on March 2024, the Commission rejected the nomination papers for the party’s candidates on the ground that the party is not duly registered by the Registrar of Political Parties under the Political Parties Act, 2018.
“After hearing all the sides involved, the Court dismissed the application for lack of merit and ordered the Party to pay the costs of the proceedings. By the same order, the Commission has been discharged from the case.
“In view of this development, the Commission wishes to notify all stakeholders that the local government by-elections for Rukuru, Chilanga and Kaporo wards in Karonga will be held on 26 th March 2024 as scheduled from 6 am to 4 pm in all polling stations,” reads a statement signed by Chief Elections Officer Andrew Mpesi