The Third Civil Bench of the Federal First Instance Court at Arada on March 5, 2016 lifted the ban on Abebaw Mehari, president of the All Ethiopia Unity Party (AEUP), which prohibited him from not using the stamp of the party.
Abebaw was banned by the court after some defunct members of the party filed a law suit to ban the president from his leadership position.
During a press conference that was held on Monday at the head office of the party located off Churchill Avenue, the president stated that the party is one of the pioneer opposition parties in the country and has faced so many pressures and challenges to weaken the party both from within and outside the party.
“The havoc caused by some self-centered members of the party is also a continuation of such pressures and challenges; however, the party as usual has tackled the challenge by defeating the infiltrators finally saving the party from further destruction,” the president said.
It is to be recalled that the Executive Council of the party banned the president from his position and decided that the deputy president continue executing the day-to-day activities of the party on his behalf until the next general assembly is held in six months’ time.
In this regard, both the president and the head of the public relations of the party rejected the decision saying that the groups are not mandated to do so.
“Only 16 individual called for the banning of the president and four are active member. So how could the president be banned by these individuals?” Mulugeta Abebe, head of the public relations, asked.
“Let alone 16 individuals, the council of the party, which has 105 seats, is not mandated to ban the president, the president can only be appointed or removed by the general assembly of the party.”
It is to be recalled that the major reason that caused the rift in the party, according to defunct members, was the reluctant nature of the president to call a regular meeting of the general assembly.
In this regard Abebaw told The Reporter that the party is finalizing its preparations to conduct its general assembly and the meeting will be called in a month’s time.
The party had passed through a similar problem on the eve of the 2015 general electiond when Mamushet Amare and Abebaw Mehari were in a stiff squabble by claiming the leadership of the party. That bickering had forced the National Electoral Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) to intervene.
According to the decision made by the NEBE, Abebaw Mehari was recognized, as the president of the party and took part in the 2015 election.
