Tunisia's electoral commission on Monday rejected a court ruling reinstating three presidential candidates and police arrested another candidate in what opposition critics said was another example of President Kais Saied stifling competition.

Defying the highest judicial body, the commission approved only the candidacies of Saied and two others, Zouhair Magzhaoui and Ayachi Zammel, for the Oct. 6 presidential election.

"The commission is the only body constitutionally entrusted with the integrity of the election," Farouk Bouasker the head of electoral commission said.

Earlier on Monday, police arrested Zammel, opens new tab, a member of his campaign told Reuters. The campaign member said the arrest appeared aimed at distracting him from his campaign.

The developments could shake the credibility of the vote and deepen a political crisis that has been escalating since 2021, when Saied began ruling by decree in a move the opposition described as a coup.

Last week, the Administrative Court, the highest judicial body that adjudicates electoral disputes, reinstated three prominent candidates, Mondher Znaidi, AbdelLatif Mekki and Imed Daimi, to the election race after the electoral commission had rejected their candidacy filing.

Dozens of activists gathered near the commission's headquarters on Monday, demanding the commission step down.

"This is a complete coup against the will of the voters...This sets a precedent in election history that the commission does not respect the decision of the Administrative Court," Hichem Ajbouni, a protester, told Reuters

"We have moved to the law of force.. This is a farce," he added.

Tunisian opposition parties and human rights groups have accused the authorities of using "arbitrary restrictions" and intimidation to help ensure Saied's re-election.

Opposition politicians have said the electoral commission was no longer independent and its sole goal had become ensuring an easy victory for Saied.

The commission denies these accusations and says it is neutral.

Saied, who was democratically elected in 2019, said last year he would not hand over the country to "non-patriots."