President Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera on Wednesday conceded defeat in the just-ended general elections and congratulated Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) leader, Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika, on his victory.

In a National Address delivered from Kamuzu Palace in Lilongwe, Dr. Chakwera thanked Malawians for entrusting him with the presidency over the past years and expressed gratitude to his supporters for backing him as a candidate.

He said he accepted the outcome of the polls in respect of both the will of Malawians and the Constitution of Malawi, pledging a peaceful transition of power to his successor.

The Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) is expected to officially announce the presidential results this afternoon at the National Tally Centre in Lilongwe.

Meanwhile, former President Dr. Joyce Banda has also congratulated Professor Mutharika and the DPP on their electoral victory.

In a statement released Wednesday, Banda commended the President-elect, noting that he faces the enormous task of addressing Malawi’s pressing challenges, particularly the economic downturn.

“The President-elect is assured of my full support as he works in the best interest of Malawians,” Banda said.

She further thanked citizens for conducting themselves peacefully throughout the electoral process, describing the outcome as a testament to Malawians’ enduring trust in democracy.

Banda wished Mutharika well in his new role and prayed for God’s blessings upon the nation.

LAGOS EYE NEWS reports that MEC Chairperson Justice Annabel Mtalimanja announced that the candidate of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), His Excellency Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika, is the winner of the Presidential Election with 3,035,249 votes, representing 56.8 percent of the total valid votes.