NEBE Maintained Institutional Neutrality Throughout 7th General Election, Says Chairperson Melatework Hailu

Addis Ababa, June 21, 2026 (ENA) — The National Election Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) maintained its institutional neutrality throughout the country's 7th General Election and carried out its responsibilities strictly in accordance with the law and established electoral guidelines, free from any external interference, Chairperson Melatework Hailu said.

Speaking at a ceremony held to announce the official results of the 7th General Election, Melatework said the Board discharged its mandate independently and remained committed to ensuring a credible, transparent, inclusive, and accountable electoral process.

"The National Election Board of Ethiopia maintained its institutional neutrality and performed its duties solely in accordance with the law and electoral guidelines, without interference," she stated.

The ceremony, which marked the official conclusion of the electoral process, brought together senior government officials, leaders of political parties, representatives of international organizations, civil society groups, and other election stakeholders.

Among those attending the event were President Taye Atske Selassie, Speaker of the House of People's Representatives Tagesse Chafo, Deputy Prime Minister and Head of the Democracy Coordination Center Adem Farah, as well as leaders of political parties that participated in the election. Representatives of international institutions and civil society organizations were also present.

Melatework noted that the election was administered in line with the principles of inclusiveness, transparency, and accountability.

She emphasized that the Board safeguarded its institutional independence throughout the process and implemented all electoral activities in accordance with the law and established procedures.

"The success of the election is the result of the collective efforts of many stakeholders," she said.

The Chairperson highlighted several reforms and achievements recorded during the electoral process.

She noted that voter registration and candidate registration were conducted using locally developed technological systems, marking a significant advancement in Ethiopia's electoral administration capacity.

According to Melatework, NEBE maintained continuous engagement with political parties and provided a range of capacity-building training programs aimed at strengthening their participation throughout the electoral process.

She further stated that extensive logistical preparations were undertaken to ensure the timely distribution of election materials across the country, contributing to the smooth conduct of voting.

For the first time in Ethiopia's electoral history, the Board also organized a structured national debate platform, enabling political parties to present their policies and engage voters on key national issues.

Melatework commended citizens for their active participation in the election and expressed appreciation to political parties, civil society organizations, government institutions, security bodies, and development partners for their contributions to the successful conduct of the vote.

The announcement of the official results marks the culmination of a nationwide electoral process that saw millions of Ethiopians cast their ballots in the country's 7th General Election.