Election Board Spurns Tigray State's Election Bid

The National Election Board of Ethiopia has dismissed the fateful decision of the Tigray State Council to hold its regional election no later than September 10, 2020, deciding that any kind of elections will not be held until the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is declared to pose no risk to public health.

The Board made the decision in response to the regional government's request last week for it to conduct the election there or provide logistics if it is unable to do so. Chaired by Birtukan Midekssa, the Board has asserted that regional states have no power to hold regional elections and that the Board is not legally obligated to entertain such a notion. It is a landmark decision that will escalate the dispute between the federal government and the regional state over constitutional mandate and electioneering. The response from officials at the Regional State has been one of defiance.

“We don't accept the decision by the National Election Board of Ethiopia," said Spokesperson for the Regional State, Liya Kassa.

The Regional State Council's decision had also put forward the formation of a regional electoral agency in the case the National Election Board would not be able or willing to respond within the time frame of the deadline.

“The Regional Council will have to convene and decide on the organs that will conduct the election, as simple as that," said Getachew Reda, politburo member of the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF). “The substantive right to vote constitutionally is guaranteed. We'll go ahead by taking the necessary steps to make sure the election is free and fair.”

The determination of the Council members of Tigray Regional State to hold a regional election comes after the House of Federation decided to extend the terms of members of parliament, the House of Federation, and regional councils until the next national elections, which will be held nine months to a year after the pandemic is proclaimed to present no threat.

Tracking COVID-19

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468770

Total cases Reported In Ethiopia

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0

New cases Reported In Ethiopia

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42742

Active cases Reported In Ethiopia

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0

New Deaths Reported In Ethiopia

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7463

Total Deaths Reported In Ethiopia

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418563

Total Recovered Reported In Ethiopia

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87

Critical in Ethiopia

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Source: Coronavirus monitor API

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