The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has said it does not expect any petitions from the recently held Petauke Central Constituency by-elections.

ECZ Chairperson, Mwangala Zaloumis said the standard in which the polls were undertaken leaves no room for petition as they were carried out in a credible manner.

ZANIS reports that the Chairperson said this during a post-election meeting with various polling staff in Petauke .

The Petauke seat fell vacant after the incumbent Emmanuel Banda disappeared from lawful custody, forcing the Speaker of the National Assembly, Nelly Mutti to declare the seat vacant.

The seat was therefore contested by seven candidates with the Ruling United Party for National Development (UPND) fielding Severian Lungu, the New Congress Party (NCP) fielding Simon Banda as its candidate, and Julius Mwale by the Socialist Party.

Others include Carlos Chama for the Citizens First, Moses Phiri for the Democratic Union, Joshua Tembo for the Leadership First and Nkole Mutale as an independent.

The polls resulted in the New Congress Party (NCP) candidate Simon Banda scooping the seat with 13, 180 votes.

And right behind him was UPND candidate Severian Lungu with 11, 093 Votes.