The Election Commission (EC) has delayed the announcement of the official results of the Senate election, originally scheduled for Tuesday (July 2). The decision comes as the EC navigates through many complaints concerning the qualifications and alleged ineligibility of some senators-elect.
With over a thousand complaints to address, the EC is undertaking a careful review to ensure all legal protocols are strictly followed. The agency affirmed, meanwhile, its commitment to resolving these issues promptly while maintaining fairness.
The law requires a five-day post-election window to field complaints, with no maximum duration set for announcing the certified results. This period allows for assessing objections regarding the 200 elected senators and an additional 100 reserve candidates.
Certain candidates have expressed urgency in certifying the results to resume legislative duties, including crucial bills that influence constitutional amendments. However, ongoing disputes over candidate qualifications and demands for a meticulous review process continue to delay the final certification.
Legal experts and former candidates are also advocating for the EC to expedite the announcement of the election results while continuing their investigations to avoid prolonging the tenure of the caretaker Senate, appointed back in 2019. (NNT)
