Swapo Party Secretary General Sofia Shaningwa has issued a formal response to two court cases filed by the Independent Patriots for Change seeking to nullify the results of Namibia's Presidential and National Assembly Elections held in late November 2024.

In her court submission, Shaningwa argued that the IPC's failure to include the concerned returning officers in their legal challenge represents a critical legal flaw. 

She stated, "The concerned returning officer, whose returns are being questioned, ought to have been cited and called upon to defend them, assuming they were properly impugned."

Shaningwa further asserted that without the returning officers as respondents, the IPC's claims lack the legal foundation to proceed. 

She described this omission as a "fundamental and formidable legal obstacle" to the IPC's case.

Additionally, Shaningwa dismissed the IPC's broader challenge to the validity of the National Assembly election results, labelling it as procedurally invalid. 

She emphasised that the IPC's attempt to attack both the outcome and the totality of the election results was undermined by the President's proclamation issued on November 28, 2024, which took effect the evening prior.

The IPC is seeking a court order to declare the Presidential and National Assembly election results invalid and set aside. 

The legal battle between the two parties underscores deep political tensions following the closely watched elections.