Published: 10:45, February 19, 2020 | Updated: 07:43, June 6, 2023
Ghani declared winner in Afghan elections, Abdullah rejects
By Xinhua

President of Afghanistan Ashraf Ghani takes part in a panel discussion during the 56th Munich Security Conference (MSC) in Munich, southern Germany, on Feb 15, 2020. (CHRISTOF STACHE / AFP)

KABUL — Afghanistan's election commission on Tuesday announced the final results of Sept 28 presidential polls and declared incumbent President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani as the winner.

"Mohammad Ashraf Ghani has secured 50.64 percent of the votes used in the presidential elections, therefore the Independent Election Commission announces him as the elected president of Afghanistan," head of the election commission Hawa Alam Nuristani said at a press conference here.

Ghani's rival and chief executive of his National Unity Government Abdullah Abdullah stood the second by securing 39.52 percent of the votes 

Hawa Alam Nuristani, head of the election commission

Ghani's rival and chief executive of his National Unity Government Abdullah Abdullah stood the second by securing 39.52 percent of the votes, she added.

However, Abdullah rejected the outcome as "unfair" and said he is the winner of the election and deserves to form the government.

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"We are the winner of the presidential elections. The result announced by the election commission is unfair and bogus, so our team rejects it and forms its broad-based government," Abdullah said in his speech among his supporters Tuesday evening.

Afghanistan's fourth presidential election since the collapse of Taliban rule in late 2001 was held amid tight security on Sept 28 among over a dozen contesters.

The preliminary results of the controversial presidential polls were announced in December wherein Ghani topped the first position and Abdullah stood second in the race.

READ MORE: Afghan president wins 2nd term in preliminary vote count

More than 1.9 million out of 9.4 million eligible voters cast their votes in Sept 28 presidential elections.