The Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) is the foremost violator of the citizens’ rights, despite lip service to safeguard the country’s constitution, a former TPLF official said.

In an interview with the state-owned Addis Zemen, Zadig Abraha, who is currently Minister of Democratic System Building Coordination Center, said that TPLF has a history of violating the constitutional rights of citizens starting from the day it adopted the constitution in 1989.

Reacting to the TPLF’s decision to hold elections in Tigray despite the nationwide postponement of voting, Zadig, who broke party ranks in February 2019 after a string of disagreements, said it is one of the manifestations of the party’s anti-constitutional stance and illegal move.

The Minister, who also serves as an election section head for PP, went on to accuse his former party members of manifesting a kind of, “We don’t want to live in a country which we don’t rule,” attitude. They seem to say “We want a nation apart”, he said.

He added: “A country is not something you discard just because you are not its PM or a plaything you do with as you please. Violating the constitution is a punishable offense.”

The Tigray people have been living together with their Ethiopian brothers and sisters for centuries, paying all the necessary sacrifices and shedding blood for their country, and that was not because their leaders always came from Tigray, according to Zadig. The steps TPLF is taking are neither constitutional or sustainable but they are only meant as show-offs for the loss of its standing, he said. “Unfortunately, they only serve to hasten its demise,” he added.

Ethiopia’s national elections were scheduled to take place on August 29, but have been delayed because of COVID-19. Some opposition parties have demanded the establishment of a transition government. However, Zadig deemed the demand as ill-considered, arguing the constitution mandates the current ruling party to continue exercising power until an election is held.