Kabul, Feb 19 (TIWN) Mohammad Ashraf Ghani has secured a second term as President of Afghanistan, the country's independent election commission has announced, more than four months after polls closed.

The commission said Ghani garnered 923,592 votes, or 50.64 percent, in the election that took place last Sept. 28. Challenger and chief executive Abdullah Abdullah received 720,841 votes, or 39.52 percent.

Election results were repeatedly delayed amid accusations of misconduct and technical problems with counting ballots. The final vote tally count had originally set to be announced Nov. 7.

Hawa Alam Nuristani had said previously said that 1.8 million Afghan citizens voted in the election out of some 9.6 million eligible.

The election commission tried to launch a ballot recount in November but Abdullah halted the attempt, saying he wouldn’t let his observers participate. He eventually allowed a recount to go forward earlier this month.