BISSAU, Sept. 21 (Xinhua) -- The Central Committee of the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC) on Saturday elected Domingos Simoes Pereira as its candidate for Guinea-Bissau's presidential election scheduled for Nov. 23.

Pereira, the sole contender, secured 359 votes out of 370 cast, with nine against and two declared null, according to the official tally released after the vote.

This marks the second time that Pereira, president of the PAIGC, has been chosen by his party to run for the presidency. He was the PAIGC candidate in the 2019 election, won by current President Umaro Sissoco Embalo, who is seeking a second term. ■