In an extraordinary statement in his campaign headquarters on Tuesday afternoon, Mr Prabowo said he entirely rejected the judgment delivered by 133 million Indonesians at the ballot box on July 9, because it was the result of ‘‘massive cheating that is structured and systematic’’.

He said the country’s Electoral Commission had failed in its duty to democracy, so he withdrew his participation from the process. He also suggested, though not explicitly, that he would not take his appeal to Indonesia’s constitutional court.

Later, his legal representative, Mahendradatta, confirmed to kompas.com that, “only those with legal standing can go to the Constitutional Court - that is those who are registered as presidential candidates ... By withdrawing we … no longer have legal standing”.

Mr Prabowo’s confidante, Fadli Zon, said the campaign team would let people know what was the next step “but for sure it will not be anything illegal”.

There was also speculation that the withdrawal violated the presidential election law, which says anyone who withdraws after the voting will be jailed for between three and six years, and fined 50 billion and 100 billion rupiah ($5 million to $10 million)

It is unclear what Mr Prabowo will do next, and he did not spell it out, but, even though he urged calm, his response will heighten the risk of street battles launched by his hardline supporters.

‘‘We, Prabowo-[and running mate] Hatta [Rajasa] were ready to win or to lose, but in a respectable democratic process, and therefore we ask all people who voted for us to be calm and be assured we are not letting our democratic rights be robbed,’’ he said.

Mr Hatta was not present at the announcement and Mr Prabowo refused to answer questions.

Late on Monday, police were lining the city streets around the Electoral Commission after threats from Mr Prabowo’s camp that he would send thousands of supporters to ‘‘guard’’ and ‘‘secure’’ the vote.

But Mr Prabowo ordered his own scrutineers to withdraw from the Electoral Commission’s official count, amid claims that its process amounted to ‘‘crimes’’ against democracy in Indonesia.

Mr Prabowo’s response comes despite the advice of outgoing president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono that ‘‘to concede is noble’’, and despite the Electoral Commission laughing off his complaints about the process.

It is also a setback for Indonesia’s young democracy, which seemed until today to have navigated an evenly matched and hard-fought election with few if any disputes.

The count, which is due to be finalised late on Tuesday, is set to elevate Joko Widodo, the former mayor of regional city Solo and Jakarta governor, to the presidency of Indonesia.

Mr Joko will take up office on October 20 after winning by a larger than expected margin which late counts indicated could be about 53 to 47 per cent, or 8 million votes.

Mr Joko on Monday ordered his volunteers to stay home and not take to the streets to celebrate. Mr Prabowo’s team, by contrast, had earlier told thousands of his supporters to go to the Electoral Commission to ‘‘secure’’ it.

Mr Joko, known universally as Jokowi, represents a significant break from Indonesia’s past. From a poor upbringing he came neither from an elite family nor through the military, instead making his start as a furniture manufacturer and small businessman.

Mr Prabowo’s insistence that he won has also become increasingly unpopular. It comes in the face of a survey saying 93 per cent of people want him simply to concede.