Ethiopian candidates allowed to campaign until 2 days before polling day
ADDIS ABABA, May 9 (Xinhua) — The National Electoral Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) said Monday no candidate should be prohibited from electioneering until two days before balloting begins.
NEBE press officer Getahun Amogne said in a press release that complaints have been reported to NEBE that contending candidates and supporters were being prohibited to engage in campaigning.
He said contesting candidates could campaign via mass media or on non-restricted areas until 48 hours before the May 15 polling day.
Getahun said any campaign held thereafter is subject to legal actions.
He said conducting political propaganda within 500 meters radius from a polling station is prohibited.
Getahun also said bearing candidature symbols and wearing clothes that carry symbols of political parties or candidates at polling stations is also forbidden.
He said posters of candidates should be removed from polling stations, adding that any agitation like discourse in the polling stations was banned.
He also urged concerned parties to cooperate by winding up campaigns 48 hours before the polling day.
More than 25.6 million of Ethiopia’s 74.2 million people have registered to vote in the upcoming elections.
The ruling Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front ( EPRDF) is widely expected to win a third five-year term in the world’s extremely poor country, but observers say the ruling party ‘s parliamentary majority may dwindle under challenges from opposition candidates.
The two major opposition parties, which dare to challenge the ruling parties, are the United Ethiopian Democratic Forces (UEDF) and the Coalition for Unity and Democracy. Both are representing the interests of youths, university students and business people.
Voters will also elect representatives in nine regional state parliaments that appoint members of the 112-seat Council of the Federation, the upper house. The governing party and affiliated parties hold 519 of the current 547 seats in the federal parliament.