MULTIPLE accusations of electoral fraud have surfaced over the initial outcome of Sunday’s Colombian presidential election.

Left-wing presidential candidate Ivan Cepeda said that he is challenging the result due to complaints of irregularities at the thousands of the country’s polling stations.

Right-wing candidate Abelardo de la Espriella is reported as having a razor-thin lead over Mr Capeda with 49.7 per cent of the vote in the initial count compared to his rival’s 48.7 per cent.

This represents the narrowest difference in the modern electoral history of Colombia.

Speaking from Bogota after the vote count was tallied, Mr Cepeda told supporters that his campaign considers the count “unofficial and non-binding” and that his team will challenge results from more than 30,000 voting stations. 

“We will not allow the rollback of the social gains we have achieved,” Mr Cepeda said. “We will not allow democracy to be violated.”

Outgoing president Gustavo Petro also vowed to challenge the election outcome.

But Mr de la Espriella, a business owner and lawyer who was backed by United States President Donald Trump, is claiming victory.

“I will govern for all Colombians,” Mr de la Espriella, nicknamed “The Tiger,” told thousands of supporters as he stood behind bulletproof glass in the northern city of Barranquilla on Sunday night. 

But his conciliatory tone changed as he spoke.

“Pack your bags and prepare to exercise the opposition,” he added. 

Mr de la Espriella holds dual Colombian and US citizenship. He’s a Trump supporter and a member of the Republican Party.

“He won, big!” President Trump said on his social media platform.

A victory by Mr de la Espriella is expected to usher in policies that will reverse the progressive agenda of President Petro, including peace negotiations with illegal armed groups.

Whoever is finally declared the winner by the electoral authorities will begin a four-year term on August 7.