NEBE holds regular meeting, passes decisions

April 1, 2005

The National Electoral Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) today held its regular weekly meeting and passed decisions on issues presented to it.

The board examined a letter submitted to it by the Ethiopian Peoples' Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) saying that campaigning activities have been carried out at places where such things are forbidden by the electoral law.

Having considered this and other similar queries it had been receiving, the NEBE decided that churches, mosques and other places of worship should prohibit any election campaigning in their respective institutions. The Board has urged these institutions to report to it any such attempts by individuals or parties.

As regards the case submitted by EPRDF, the Board decided that the case be referred to police investigation so that legal measures could be taken against any offenders.

The NEBE also looked into the letter by All Ethiopians' Democratic Party (AEDP) about the party's decision to cancel three of its candidates who had been registered to contest for seats in the House of Peoples' Representatives.

The Board rejected the party's decision saying that it has been now more than a month since the time for announcing candidates expired. The Board also decided that from now on NEBE's office would not entertain such issues coming from any party.

The Board also examined the request by 13 AEDP members demanding to elect their party's permanent executive members instead of the current provisional ones.

The NEBE decided that such queries should first be presented to the party pursuant to its statutes. The Board pointed out that the members could take the case to court to enforce their rights if the party does not comply with their demands.