Ethiopia’s upper house of parliament unanimously declared the upcoming Tigray’s election as unconstitutional, and therefore null and void.

In an emergency meeting on Saturday, the House of Federation has held a discussion on resolutions presented by constitutional interpretations and the identity affairs standing committee.

Accordingly, the decision passed by the Tigray region to hold an election on coming Wednesday, September 9, and the formation of an electoral board in the region illegal and said the results-however they turn out- would be ‘invalid, null and void.’

The activities being carried out by the Tigray region to hold the election is contradictory to Article 9(1) of the Constitution and therefore the election result would be inconsequential and of no effect, the House of Federation declared, according to the Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation.

Because of the illegal acts of a certain entity, the people of Tigray should not be subjected to harm, the House underlined. On the account of the House’s affiliation to the people of Tigray, it belives any disputes should be settled in peaceful and legal means, avoiding social, economical and political chaos, the statement added.

Ethiopia postponed parliamentary elections scheduled for August due to the coronavirus pandemic, the electoral board said on March 2020. A new date has yet to be set but the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) said it would go ahead with elections in Tigray despite to a nationwide postponement.

On Thursday, TPLF warned that any decision to prevent or disrupt the election is “tantamount to a declaration of war” and boycotted the meeting, accusing the House of failing to communicate the meeting agenda.