Ethiopia Election Board Logs 47 Formal Complaints as Legal Review Panel Begins Scrutiny

June 8, 2026

Mintesinot Nigussie

The National Election Board of Ethiopia said it has received 47 formal complaints related to the recent electoral process, filed by political actors and independent candidates as post-election scrutiny moves into a legal review phase.

According to the Board, the complaints were submitted using standardised forms and supported by witness accounts, video material and documentary evidence. Of the total submissions, 31 came from political parties, while 16 were lodged by independent candidates.

The grievances cover a wide range of alleged irregularities, including restrictions on party representatives entering polling stations, claims of intimidation targeting candidates, and accusations of unlawful campaigning during both the eve of the vote and election day itself.

Other issues raised include allegations of partiality among election officials and concerns over the closure of some polling stations at 12pm, despite a Board decision to extend voting hours.

To examine the cases, the Board has established a panel of legal experts tasked with reviewing incidents from election day and assessing them against the legal framework governing the electoral process.

The chairperson of the National Election Board of Ethiopia, Melatwork Hailu, said the institution had previously briefed political party leaders on complaint procedures.