The once electoral front under the banner of Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD) seems to have been involved in an endless saga as several factions claimed to have ownership of the trademark over the past three years. For just a while, it had seemed that the Ayele Chamisso group, which gossip sees as having fervour for suing right and left, asserted its long challenged claim to the treasured brand.

Not when the indefatigable politician, Hailu Shawel (Eng.), is around town, gossip observes. After almost an absence of a year, touring North America for both medical and political purposes, Hailu is back at home; that is to the delight of those who revered him, as well as those who resent his guts. To the nightmare of Ayele Chamisso, once again, he crowned political controversy after revealing to the media his stubborn claim to the brand CUD at a press conference he held last week.

Gossip has it that Hailu claimed the CUD remains undivided; it is only the leadership that is split. What he would make out of the number of warring factions is indeed confusing to gossip corridors: There is the Unity group, promoted by Birtukan Midekssa, which also appears to have suffered a backslide following the alleged withdrawal of Muluneh Eyoel, once elected to serve as secretary general of the would-be CUD. Of course, there is the militant “Ginbot 7” of Brehanu Nega (PhD), based thousands of kilometres away in the United States.

Those elected to Parliament running under the CUD platform are also divided along the groups of Temegen Zewdie and Ayele Chamisso, politicians once close allies in resurrecting the spirit of CUD when their leaders were locked up in jail in the aftermath of the May 2005 national elections.

It is in the midst of claims and counterclaims that Hailu goes to the Federal High Court challenging the national electoral board for awarding the name CUD to people he openly accused as being instruments of the ruling EPRDF. He indeed appeared before the Court, ninth civil bench, on Tuesday, June 10, 2008.

Both the plaintiff and the defendant did not present their respective arguments and counter arguments when the case was earlier summoned: the issue of power of attorney that was meant to be given by Hailu was a subject of dispute.

During the heydays of the CUD, it was very unlikely for the head of the electoral front to take all the trouble of appearing before the court, gossip observed. It was not because the party did not have cases, in fact it had plenty. But at the time, it was a party adored and passionately followed by many, it had had the ability to line up close to 115 lawyers willing to provide pro-bono legal services.

In just a few years, the Hailu Shawel faction appears to be having a hard time soliciting the services of a lawyer, gossip observed. That would have spared the chairman from taking all the trouble of fighting with the Boards’ lawyers who challenged him on the issue of power of attorney. Lucky for him, the court ruled in his favour; the judge told him to come prepared when both parties are summoned on Tuesday, June 17.