KHARTOUM
An independent presidential candidate on Wednesday pulled out of Sudan's presidential election, citing what his campaign managers have described as "vote rigging."
Zanoun Abu Bakr, campaign spokesman for presidential candidate Omar Awad al-Karim, said members of the campaign had documented electoral violations at a number of polling stations in capital Khartoum.
"Election results will never be honest," Abu Bakr told The Anadolu Agency. "That's why our candidate decided to withdraw."
Abu Bakr said his campaign planned to notify local and international election observers regarding the alleged violations.
Sudan's official electoral commission said the candidate should submit evidence – if he had any – to support his claims.
"We have not received any complaints from this candidate," commission head Mukhtar al-Asam told AA.
"If he has evidence [of vote fraud], he can officially present it to us," he added.
Earlier Wednesday, the electoral commission extended the polls by one day.
The elections, which kicked off Monday, were originally scheduled to wrap up on Wednesday.
Up to 13 million Sudanese voters are eligible to vote in the polls – the country's first elections since the secession of South Sudan in 2011.
Along with al-Karim, 14 other candidates – including incumbent President Omar al-Bashir – are contesting the presidency.
It is widely believed that al-Bashir, who has ruled the country for over 25 years, will sweep the presidential race.
Voters are also electing 425 members of parliament and 2,235 members of state legislative assemblies.
A total of 1,072 candidates are vying for seats in Sudan's National Assembly, while over 7,000 are running for state legislative assembly seats.
