By Neamin Ashenafi
The National Electoral Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) has postponed elections in the town of Bonga in the Southern Nations Nationalities and Peoples Region (SNNPR) due to clashes between supporters of an independent candidate and the ruling party.
Election campaign between independent candidate Ashebir Woldegiorgis (MD) and Mebratu Gebremariam, who represents the Southern Peoples Democratic Movement (SPDM), for Gimbo constituency in the town of Bonga, Kaffa zone of SNNPR, were marred by clashes between supporters of the two candidates.
Wendimu Golla, deputy head of the Office of NEBE, has confirmed to The Reporter the postponement of the election which was to be held on Sunday May 24, 2015.
"So as to conduct a peaceful election, the board has decided to postpone the election for an unspecified period of time," Wendimu told The Reporter.
Ashebir won a seat in parliament from his stronghold in Gimbo constituency during the 2010 general election becoming the sole independent parliamentarian. His victory in 2010 came after a fiercely contested campaign with Berhanu Adelo, who represented SPDM - the ruling Ethiopian Peoples' Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) affiliate.
Ashebir has been elected vice president of Pan-African Parliament.
Source: AllAfrica
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