Contestation of Election Results by El Bachir El Sakhi
In a significant turn of events following the elections held on September 23, 2026, El Bachir El Sakhi, the candidate representing the Popular Movement (MP), has initiated a legal challenge against the election results. This decision stems from alleged irregularities he claims to have identified within several electoral reports from various polling stations. The complaint includes six documents submitted to the magistrate responsible for overseeing this case, who is tasked with evaluating the integrity of this highly contested vote. As reported by fr.le360.ma.
Details of the Election Dispute
Within the Rabat-Chellah constituency, three candidates have been declared victorious in the contentious elections held on September 23. However, the election battle appears far from over. El Sakhi's legal action against the results is rooted in accusations of electoral fraud. He is regarded as one of the strongest contenders in this constituency and has raised concerns about several reports from different polling stations, particularly in the neighborhoods of Youssoufia and El Nahda, where he alleges that significant irregularities occurred during the voting process, as highlighted in the latest edition of _Al Ahdath Al Maghribia_.
It is important to note that El Sakhi's challenge does not encompass a blanket rejection of the results; rather, it focuses on specific issues documented in the disputed electoral reports. The daily newspaper mentions that he has yet to obtain a complete copy of his complaint or the pertinent documents, leaving several questions unanswered regarding the nature and potential impact of these alleged irregularities on the final vote count.
The candidate's legal recourse comes in the wake of the official announcement of the results, which confirmed that the outgoing Secretary of State for Housing, Adib Benbrahim from the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM), was declared victorious alongside fellow candidates Mohamed Tahiri and Lahcen Lachgar from the Socialist Union of Popular Forces (USFP).
According to _Al Ahdath Al Maghribia_, the Ministry of Interior publicly affirmed the complete compliance of the final election results with the initial provisional trends following the validation of the documentation processes by the counting commissions to the Constitutional Court. Furthermore, El Sakhi's complaint encompasses six electoral reports from the highly contested polling stations of Youssoufia and El Nahda, which account for the majority of the votes he is disputing.
However, the newspaper emphasizes that the mere presence of observations or notations within an electoral report does not automatically invalidate an election; the assessment of their authenticity and actual significance rests solely with the competent jurisdiction. Thus, these reports remain crucial pieces in electoral disputes, with legislation allowing candidates access within designated timeframes to ensure the legitimacy of electoral operations. The Ministry of Interior endeavors to reassure the public regarding the overall integrity of the voting process. If the alleged infractions, supported by tangible evidence presented by El Sakhi, are ultimately validated by the judiciary, this electoral dispute could reignite the post-election battle currently unfolding in Rabat. The magistrate responsible for reviewing this complaint is expected to deliver a verdict within the next month.
