Partial results of Ethiopia’s elections show the ruling party with an overwhelming majority. Preliminary elections released by the countrys electoral commission show the party headed for victory.
According to the electoral body,the ruling EPRDF party and its allies have won all the parliamentary seats decided so far – 442 out of 547.
At a news conference held Wednesday, NEBE chairperson Merga Bekana confirmed EPRDF has won 80.8% of the total parliamentary seats including 23 parliamentary seats from the capital, Addis Ababa.
The Ethiopian Political Revolutionary Democratic Front won all of the seats in the capital city, Addis Ababa.
Final election results will be announced on June 22.
The African Union (AU) observers’ mission said Ethiopia’s Sunday general elections were “credible” and in line with African Union standards.
Over 90 % of the total registered 36.8 million people have cast their votes on Sunday’s national elections; the country’s first since Ethiopia’s long-time ruler Meles Zenawi, died in office in 2012.
In the last vote in 2010, opposition parties won only a single seat in the 547 seat parliament.
The U.S. State Department commended Ethiopia for holding peaceful elections, but also said it is deeply concerned by “continued restrictions on civil society, media, opposition parties, and independent voices and view.”
Ethiopia’s National Electoral Board said an equal platform was created for all political parties, and the government has denied accusations of obstructing the opposition in any manner.
