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Congo’s election commission has canceled votes for 82 legislative candidates in the recent December general election due to alleged fraud and other irregularities.

Amidst rising calls from the opposition for a re-run of the vote, the disqualified candidates span national, provincial, and municipal assemblies, with final results still pending due to the contentious nature of the Dec. 20 poll.

While the commission’s statement did not address the presidential election, which resulted in President Felix Tshisekedi’s disputed landslide victory, it highlighted an inquiry into “acts of violence, vandalism and sabotage” by certain candidates. This inquiry has led to the invalidation of 82 legislative candidacies and the annulment of elections in two out of 484 constituencies, with 16 others previously excluded due to security concerns. Notably, the excluded include four acting provincial governors and three government ministers.

The opposition, including presidential challenger Martin Fayulu, remains unsatisfied, accusing the commission of bias and reiterating demands for a complete re-run of the vote.

Despite the government and CENI’s claims of a fair election, reported irregularities, including malfunctioning voting machines and legal questions surrounding extended voting, have cast a shadow over the process.