Panyako insisted that he would not concede defeat, arguing that the will of the electorate had been overturned in favour of what he termed “an imposed victory”.
Footage circulating online shows the charred shell of the car abandoned in the middle of the road, underscoring the heightened unrest that has overshadowed the poll.
The Malava by-election is shaping up to be a closely watched contest, with both candidates vying to secure support from undecided voters in the coming weeks.