26
Complaints Investigation Panels Deployed to Constituencies
30 June
Twenty-six Complaints Investigation Panels (CIPs) established
under the National Electoral Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) to
look into alleged election irregularities were deployed
to disputed constituencies today (30 June).
The CIPs will conduct investigations in 140 constituencies
in which the Complaints Review Body (CRB) of the Board has
recommended investigation.
Each CIP has three voting members drawn from the NEBE (Chair),
the complainant and the other interested party (declared
winner in provisional results). Where the CIP has more than
one complainant as a member, the voting members will be
two members of the NEBE, representatives of complainants
and the other interested party.
The CIPs will carry out their investigation by examining
witnesses brought by each party and by hearing the cases
of party nominated agents as well as by examining any NEBE
documentation or other relevant documentary evidence relating
to the elections where necessary.
The CIPs shall operate by consensus, but where consensus
is not possible a majority vote shall be binding.
The CIPs are expected to finalize their investigation in
15 days. They, however, should dispatch a copy of the Summary
of Facts and Notes of Recommendation to the NEBE office
as soon as possible and not later than three days of the
conclusion of the hearing in a constituency.
A CIP may recommend to the NEBE to reject a complaint, or
to allow a complaint but not to take further actions, or
to order rerun in specific polling stations of a constituency
or to order rerun across the constituency depending on the
nature of the irregularities committed.
Within seven days of the receipt of the Summary of Facts
and Note of Recommendation, the NEBE will decide on whether
to accept the recommendation of the CIP and on whether to
accept or reject the complaint.
Each CIP will investigate complaints in 4-6 constituencies
situated within or neighboring administrative zones. International
observers represented by the European Union, the Carter
Center and African Union will observe the complaints investigation
process.
Officials of the NEBE briefed the NEBE CIP members on the
rules of procedure for the operation of Complaint Investigation
Panels. “The NEBE CIP members are drawn from the head
office and those constituencies that have not been disputed,”
says Mekonnen Wondimu, a senior expert with the Board. “We
expect members of the CIP to handle the investigation process
in a free and independent manner based on the rules of procedure
and the electoral law.”
The Complaints Review Body of the NEBE had recommended for
investigation complaints submitted on 140 constituencies
out of the 299.
For
further information please contact:
Press Officer: Getahun Amogne Tel: 251-9-643738
Assistant Press Officer: Hiwot Alemayehu Tel: 251-9-487576
