Lowassa defected in late July after he was eliminated from the list of presidential aspirants for the ruling party Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM).
Lowassa alikihama chama tawala mapema mwisho wa mwezi Julai mara baada ya kuenguliwa kwenye orodha ya wawania kiti cha urais kupitia chama tawala Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM).