Ethiopia’s ruling party leads in early election results

ADDIS ABABA, May 22, 2005 (Xinhua) — The National Electoral Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) said Sunday it has received preliminary election results of 73 constituencies in various states, with the ruling party taking the lead.

Supporters of Ethiopia’s ruling party the People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front hold a rally, Thursday, May 12, 2005 in the capital, Addis Ababa to express their support for fair and peaceful elections. (AP).

NEBE said in a statement that the ruling Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) had the upper hand in 37 constituencies in Tigray, Amhara, Oromia and South Ethiopia People ‘s states.

It added the major opposition Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD) has emerged victorious in 22 constituencies in the capital Addis Ababa and other eight constituencies in various states.

According to the statement, the Afar National Democratic Party (ANDP) had the upper hand in three constituencies.

It also said the United Ethiopian Democratic Forces (UEDF) won in two constituencies while the Oromo Federalist Democratic Movement (OFDM) got the upper hand in one constituency.

NEBE is responsible for the administration, conduct and supervision of all elections in Ethiopia’s federal and state constituencies. It is scheduled to announce final official results on June 8.

Ethiopians went to poll on Sunday in the country’s two separate elections to elect representatives to the 547-seat House of People ‘s Representatives (HPR) and eight regional councils. Elections in southeastern Somali state will take place in August.

Ethiopia’s has a two-house parliament: the 110-seat upper House of the Federation and the 547-seat lower House of People’s Representatives.