Malawi court nullifies presidential vote, orders new one

BLANTYRE, Malawi (AP) — The Constitutional Court in the southern African nation of Malawi has nullified the results of last year’s presidential election. It cited “widespread, systematic and grave” irregularities including significant use of correction fluid to alter the outcome. The two leading opposition candidates had challenged the narrow election win of President Peter Mutharika, alleging that irregularities affected over 1.4 million of the total 5.1 million votes cast. Months of sometimes deadly unrest followed the vote. The electoral commission acknowledged some irregularities but argued they were insufficient to affect the outcome. Monday’s ruling can be appealed to the Supreme Court.