The ruling Ethiopian Peoples Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) said Saturday it has got the full support of the Addis Ababa residents.

The active participation of the city residents in a rally to support the ruling party is an indicator that they fully accept the strong position of the party in ensuring peace, democracy and development, EPRDF executive committee member Hilawi Yosef told journalists.

He said over 1.2 million city residents drawn from among 328 kebeles have expressed their support to the ruling party.

Saturday's rally, the biggest ever to be staged in the city, was unseen before and it was flawless, said Hilawi.

The EPRDF would emerge victorious without any fraud or cheating, he said.

He said the EPRDF had all the necessary preparations for the peaceful holding of the elections, urging the public to contribute to the peaceful elections.

Addis Ababa, a city of over 3 million people, is thought to be a major stronghold of the opposition parties.

More than 25 million of Ethiopia's 71 million people have registered to vote in the May 15 national elections. Some 35 political parties will vie for seats in the 547-seat Council of People's Representatives.

Voters will also elect representatives in nine regional state parliaments that appoint members of the 112-seat Council of the Federation, the upper house. The governing party and affiliated parties hold 519 of the current 547 seats in the federal parliament.