LILONGWE (Reuters) -Malawi’s President Lazarus Chakwera on Wednesday conceded defeat in this month’s presidential election.

“It is only right that I concede defeat out of respect for your will as citizens and out of respect for the constitution,” Chakwera said in an address to the nation.

Malawi’s electoral commission is due to release the presidential election result at a briefing starting around 1200 GMT. Official results released so far show ex-president Peter Mutharika has built a commanding lead over Chakwera.

(Reporting by Frank Phiri;Writing by Alexander Winning;Editing by Olivia Kumwenda-Mtambo)

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