The National Electoral Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) said Friday so far no party has officially withdrawn from the elections due to be conducted in 31 constituencies where re-elections were decided.

NEBE deputy head Tesfaye Mengesha told journalists that few candidates have withdrawn from the election on their own volition after informing their respective parties.

However, Tesfaye said no new candidate has been registered for the re-run elections, adding that those parties and candidates registered for the May 15 parliamentary elections will take part in the re-run election.

According to the decisions of the board, voters registration was carried out for 10 days beginning Aug. 7, while late registration was conducted on Aug. 17 and 18 in some constituencies.

The deputy head also said according to information obtained so far, over 90 percent of those who registered for the May 15 elections have obtained voters' IDs for the re-run elections.

As the board officially prohibited campaigns for re-run elections, election campaigns were not carried out in all constituencies where re-run elections will be conducted, Tesfaye said.

On Aug. 9, NEBE said the ruling Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) has won 296 parliamentary seats, which would enable it form the federal government.

NEBE also said that out of the 178 investigated constituencies, the electoral board has ordered re-run elections in 31 of them.

Ethiopians went to poll on May 15 in the country's two separate elections to elect representatives to the House of People's Representatives and eight regional councils. Elections in southeastern Somali state will take place on Sunday.

Source: Xinhua