Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) said the party intends to participate in the upcoming election but its operations continue to be hindered due to internal division. Interim OLF leader Ararso Bikila said election preparations are still ongoing though work has been obstructed by the suspended former Chairman Dawud Ibsa. 

OLF spokesperson Tolera Adaba also claimed negotiations have continued, alongside the NEBE, to strengthen the party’s campaign. Since late 2019, the election board has attempted to unify OLF factions as the party continued to suffer from tactical internal differences. 

Critics said NEBE is giving special treatment for OLF by providing the party extra time and resources. Getachew Legesse, a member of a Hadiya opposition party HNDO said the NEBE has been “babysitting OLF” but it has been canceling the licenses of other parties for “lack of progress and documentation.” HNDO was one of the 20 parties whose registration license was revoked by NEBE.

Over 70 opposition parties are registered and participating in the upcoming election, including the biggest opposition party EzeMa.

Despite OLF head Ararso telling local media that “armed struggle is over,” in 2019, some individuals in the civilian leadership in Addis Ababa reportedly continued to justify militant rebels, which led to renewed violence in parts of Wolega and other zones. However, the majority of OLF leaders who returned from Eritrea have distanced themselves from Dawud Ibsa.

It is to be noted that the former chairman Dawud tried to unilaterally suspend the whole OLF executive committee in what his critics labeled was “dictatorial behavior.”