Zambia's top court has barred former President Edgar Lungu from standing for re-election in 2026.

The Constitutional Court ruled that the 68-year-old politician had already served the maximum two terms allowed by law.

Lungu was first elected president in January 2015 to serve the remaining 20 months of his predecessor's term. President Michael Sata had died in office in October 2014.

Lungu had argued that this should not count as he did not serve a full five-year term. But the court disagreed - reversing previous rulings that had cleared him to run three years ago when he lost to Hakainde Hichilema.

"Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu has therefore been twice elected and has twice held office. The [constitution] makes him ineligible to participate in any future elections as a presidential candidate," the court ruled.

Last month, Lungu was picked by the opposition Tonse Alliance to be its presidential candidate in the 2026 election to challenge President Hichilema.

Their choice of Lungu came a year after Zambia's government withdrew his retirement benefits and privileges following his decision to return to active politics.

As part of efforts to revive his public profile, Lungu had started jogging in public along with members of the public and his supporters - which the police termed as "political activism".

In a move that angered Lungu's supporters in October, President Hichilema sacked three top judges who had taken part in the controversial ruling that had allowed Lungu to stand in the 2021 elections.

At the time the presidency defended the dismissals saying Hichilema was bound by the decision of the Judicial Complaints Commission that had determined the judges should be removed following allegations of judicial misconduct.

Lungu said he accepted the Constitutional Court's verdict, which he said did not come as a surprise as it had been steered by "the hands of political manipulation".

"It speaks to the erosion of judicial independence, the weakening of our democratic foundations, and the weaponisation of our institutions for short-term gain," he posted on social media.

"I am filled not with bitterness but with renewed determination, political hope and faith that democracy, not court politics shall certainly win in 2026 without any doubt."

The government welcomed the ruling, which puts an end to what has been a long-running legal battle.

"This decision provides legal clarity for citizens and safeguards our democracy, allowing us to look forward to free, fair and competitive elections in 2026," Attorney General Mulilo Kabesha said in a statement.

Following Sata's death and Lungu's first election, the constitution was amended so that the vice president automatically takes office if a sitting president dies.