Congo opposition candidate Fayulu rejects court decision, declares himself president
Democratic Republic of Congo opposition candidate Martin Fayulu has rejected a court ruling on Sunday that his rival won a presidential election.
Fayulu at the same time declared himself president in a move that could stoke further unrest.
Fayulu has since the release of provisional results, questioned the vote tallying process even alleging that there had been “electoral fraud” to hand victory to President elect Felix Tshisekedi.
Speaking shortly after the constitutional court gave its ruling, Fayulu called for peaceful demonstrations, urging his supporters not to recognize Tshisekedi as president.
“I consider myself the only legitimate president of the Democratic Republic of Congo. I call on the Congolese people not to recognize someone who would take on that role illegitimately nor to obey to orders coming from him,” he said at a press conference.
Fayulu, who was seen as the front runner in the run up to the December 30 poll, once again hit out at the electoral commission and the constitutional court for upholding, what he termed as a tainted victory.
“The CENI and the constitutional court have gone against and falsified the truth of the ballot box in favor of an unjust cause and legitimized a regime despised by our people. It is no more no less than a constitutional coup d’etat as it gives rise to the supreme legislature to someone who was not elected,” he said.
The African Union (AU) last week called for final results to be postponed, citing “serious doubts” about the election’s credibility.
Fayulu called on the international community to reject, Tshisekedi’s victory in the poll.
