Ethiopia's Ruling Party Secures Majority Amid Election Turmoil

WHO:

AP News - Ethiopia’s ruling party, the Prosperity Party, led by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.

AP News - Melatwork Hailu, chairperson of the National Election Board of Ethiopia.

AP News - Yitayal Assefa, opposition candidate from the All Ethiopia Unity Party.

AP News - Merara Gudina, professor at Addis Ababa University and opposition leader.

WHAT:

AP News - The Prosperity Party won 438 seats out of 501 in the House of Representatives.

AP News - Voter turnout was 94%.

AP News - More than 50 million people were registered to vote in the election.

AP News - 143 polling stations failed to open due to insecurity.

AP News - The new parliament is expected to convene in October to reelect Abiy for another five-year term.

WHERE:

AP News - The election took place in Ethiopia, with specific mention of the Oromia and Amhara regions.

AP News - The Tigray region was excluded from the election.

WHEN:

AP News - The election was held on June 1.

AP News - The new parliament is expected to convene in October.

WHY:

AP News - The election was marred by a crackdown on dissent and insecurity caused by fighting between armed groups and the federal government.

AP News - The Tigray region has not had federal representation for six years, further marginalizing it.

HOW:

AP News - The electoral board claimed to have maintained “institutional neutrality” and performed its duties according to the law and electoral guidelines.

AP News - Observers from the African Union and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development were present, although criticized for limited deployment.

(UPDATED June 22, 2026 03:30 UTC)

Ethiopia’s ruling Prosperity Party, led by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, has secured a significant victory, winning 438 out of 501 seats in the House of Representatives, with a remarkable voter turnout of 94% from over 50 million registered voters. However, the election faced challenges, including the failure of 143 polling stations to open due to insecurity, and the Tigray region was notably excluded from the voting process, leaving it without federal representation for six years. The new parliament is expected to convene in October to reelect Abiy for another five-year term, amidst concerns regarding a crackdown on dissent and ongoing conflicts between armed groups and the federal government.