Ethiopian electoral board rules poll re-run in 69 constituencies

ADDIS ABABA, Aug 5, 2005 (ENA) — The National Electoral Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) has given decisions on Friday on 69 constituencies where the investigation process has been completed.

Kemal Bedri, the chairman of the National Election Board of Ethiopia. (Reuters).

The remaining election results would be announced next week.

Press and information department with NEBE told Ethiopian News Agency (ENA) that at a meeting the board held on Friday decided to hold re-run elections partially or entirely in 14 constituencies. It approved the provisional results of 55 constituencies.

The Complaint Investigation Panels (CIPs) recently passed recommendations to hold re-run elections in 15 constituencies.

NEBE decided to hold re-run elections partially or entirely in 29 constituencies, including the 15 constituencies out of which re-run elections would be held entirely in four constituencies. Accordingly, the department said re-run elections would be held entirely in Denbiya 01 and Eteya constituencies in the Amhara Regional State as well as Basketo Special and Basketo constituencies in the South Ethiopia Peoples State [Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples’ State].

The re-run elections would be held in some polling stations in the 25 constituencies. While re-run elections would be held partially in Bugna constituency in North Welo, Gonder Zuria in North Gonder Zone and Chiliga 02 constituency. Re-run elections would be held in some polling stations in Bati, Alibuko and Dewa Chefa constituencies in South Welo Zone.Also in some polling stations in Gunji constituency in West Gojam, in Alem town in North Shewa and Amanuel and Mota constituencies in East Gojam.

The department said re-election would also be held in some polling stations in Efeson constituency in North Shewa Zone in the Amhara Regional State. Re-run elections would also be held in some polling stations in Addis Alem and Weliso 02 constituencies in West Shewa and Southwestern Shewa zones respectively in the Oromiya Regional State.

While re-run elections would be held in some polling stations in Kokosa in Bale Zone and Kuyu in North Shewa in the state. Some polling stations in Tula, Arbegona, Guguma and Bursa constituencies in Sidama Zone, as well as Wonago 01 constituency in Gedeo Zone in the South Ethiopia Peoples State would also host re-run elections. The re-run elections would also be held in some polling stations in Zara Deramalo Male Special constituency in Gamo-Gofa in the state, the department said.

Some polling stations in Lemo 02 and Soro 02 in Hadiya Zone would hold re-run elections, it said.

There are five constituencies where decisions have not passed, as the investigation process has not finalized yet.

No election campaign is allowed during the re-run elections, the board underscored.