Opposition candidates and party leaders have described Ethiopia’s 7th Parliamentary and Regional Council Elections as largely peaceful, free and democratic, as nationwide voting continues across the country.
From early Monday morning, voters turned out in large numbers, forming long queues at thousands of polling stations in what is being seen as a key moment in Ethiopia’s democratic journey.
In the Oromia Regional State, Freedom and Equality Party candidate Jamal Abdullahi cast his ballot at the Madda Walabu polling station in Robe town. He commended the process, saying voting was taking place without intimidation or interference, allowing party members and supporters to freely exercise their democratic rights.
In Gondar, Qemant Democratic Party (QDP) Chairman Awgichew Malede also voted, describing the exercise as peaceful and highly participatory. He observed strong voter turnout from the early hours of the day and highlighted what he called improved inclusivity, with significant participation from youth, women, persons with disabilities, and elderly citizens.
He further noted that party observers had been deployed across polling stations to monitor proceedings, adding that voters appeared confident and enthusiastic in expressing their choices.
Other political figures also joined the voting process, including independent candidate Dr. Dima Noggo in Gore town, Ethiopian Citizens for Social Justice (EZEMA) representative Dr. Tilahun Gebrehiwot in Addis Ababa’s Lideta Sub-City, and National Movement of Amhara (NAMA) executive member Yesuf Ebrahim.
As voting continues nationwide, political participation remains high across parties, with stakeholders broadly characterising the process as orderly and inclusive.
