Peter Mutharika Leads 2025 Presidential Race in Latest IPOR Survey

Former president Peter Mutharika, who is also the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) presidential candidate, has once again emerged as the frontrunner in the 2025 presidential race, according to a new national survey by the Institute of Public Opinion and Research (IPOR). The survey, conducted between August 14 and 27 and released in Blantyre, shows Mutharika leading with 41 percent of the vote.

President Lazarus Chakwera of the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) trails behind with 31 percent, followed by UTM’s Dalitso Kabambe with six percent. Atupele Muluzi of the United Democratic Front (UDF) secured three percent, while former president Joyce Banda of the People’s Party (PP) garnered two percent.

This marks a slight drop for Mutharika, who led with 43 percent in IPOR’s first pre-election survey conducted in July. In that poll, Chakwera had 26 percent, Kabambe five percent, Muluzi two percent, and Banda one percent.

A separate survey conducted by Afrobarometer in December 2024 also placed the DPP in the lead, indicating that if elections had been held in August last year, DPP would have secured 43 percent of the vote, MCP 29 percent, UTM seven percent, and UDF two percent.

Meanwhile, IPOR has also revealed findings on candidate recognition ahead of the September 16 General Election. President Chakwera is currently the most recognised presidential candidate, while Jane Ansah, running mate to Mutharika under the DPP, is the most recognised vice-presidential candidate. Mutharika ranks as the second most recognised presidential candidate, with Vitumbiko Mumba of the MCP emerging as the second most recognised running mate.

The survey results were presented as part of IPOR’s second pre-election briefing in Blantyre, ahead of the highly anticipated 2025 presidential elections.