NEBE announces results of referendum held in SNNPR

Addis Ababa, March 1, 2023 (FBC) – The National Electoral Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) announced the results of the statehood referendum held in six zones and five special woredas of the Southern Ethiopia Peoples’ Regional State.

A white dove symbol is represented for those zones and special woredas which opt to be organized into a region and a traditional hut symbol is represented for those zones and special woredas which wish to vote against to be organized in one region.

NEBE confirmed that the decision was made to hold the referendum again.

According to the results announced by NEBE today, excluding Wolaita zone and 81 polling centers that were not included in other zones and special woredas, the result shows that more than 1.6 million voters voted for the formation into one region.

It was pointed out that 78,970 voters also voted against the formation of in one region.

The Chairperson of NEBE, Birtukan Mideksa, stated that the results of 81 voting centers that were not included in the results because their outcome do not affect the overall results of the zones.

She also explained that the whole result from the Wolaita zone was not included in the report because it could affect the overall result of the general referendum. Therefore, NEBE decided to hold the referendum again in Wolaita zone.

The polling centers whose election polls were not included are the entire Wolaita zone and Konso 4 polling stations, South Omo 4 polling stations, Gamo 21 polling stations, Gedeo 23 polling stations, Gofa 10 polling stations, Burji special woreda 2 polling stations, Alle special woreda 3 polling stations, Amaro Special woreda 7 and Derashe Special woreda 7 polling stations.