Opposition groups denounce the vote as a “sham election” amid allegations of irregularities and restricted competition
Addis Ababa — Ethiopia’s National Electoral Board (NEBE) has officially declared Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s ruling Prosperity Party the winner of the country’s 7th general election, securing 438 of 547 parliamentary seats, roughly 90 percent of the legislature. The announcement was made at a formal ceremony in Addis Ababa and comes against a backdrop of ongoing security crises, rising economic hardship, and widespread criticism from opposition parties over the integrity of the vote.
The result was broadly expected. The Prosperity Party ran unopposed in more than 70 constituencies, raising questions about the competitiveness of the electoral landscape even before a single ballot was cast.
Opposition Cries Foul
Major opposition formations, including the Coalition of Ethiopian Unity and the Oromo Federalist Congress (OFC), have rejected the outcome, describing the process as neither free nor fair. Their objections center on a pattern of alleged abuses in rural areas, where the vast majority of Ethiopia’s population lives: reports of pre-marked ballot boxes, voter intimidation, and the detention of opposition members and their supporters during the election period.
Merera Gudina of the OFC stated that the election result will do little to address the country’s deep-rooted crises, and renewed calls for broader, inclusive political dialogue and reform of institutions such as the Electoral Board itself.
The NEBE reported voter turnout of 96.2 percent among more than 54 million registered voters, a figure that critics have questioned given active conflict in the Amhara and Oromia regions, Ethiopia’s two largest regional states, where hundreds of constituencies were unable to hold votes. The Board later acknowledged that elections were disrupted in over 100 locations in the Amhara region alone. No voting took place in Tigray, where renewed tensions between the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) and the federal government have revived fears of a return to large-scale conflict.
Parliament’s Shape
Beyond the Prosperity Party’s dominant bloc, the Ethiopian Citizens for Social Justice Party (EZEMA) won 13 federal parliamentary seats, while the National Movement of Amhara (NaMA) secured six. Both parties have faced accusations from critics of drifting toward alignment with the ruling party, charges each has denied. A number of independent candidates also won seats.
International Reaction
The European Union issued a statement following the vote expressing hope that elections would eventually be conducted in constituencies where polling could not take place, signaling concern over the incomplete nature of the process.
A Broader Pattern
Political analysts warn that Ethiopia’s election reflects a wider trend in which the formal structures of democratic participation, ballots, parliaments, multiple parties, remain in place, even as genuine political competition narrows. When ruling parties can contest unopposed in large numbers of constituencies, and when opposition forces cite systematic intimidation and exclusion, the credibility of the electoral process itself comes into question.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has continued to assert that his government is pursuing a path toward a more prosperous Ethiopia. Yet many citizens report persistent economic strain, while armed conflict continues to limit movement and disrupt livelihoods across significant parts of the country.
Source: Based on original reporting by Borkena and analysis published in “The Ugliest Democracy of All” (Habte H., June 22, 2026).
