PDP denies suspending Dino Melaye.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ijumu Local Government Area (LGA) of Kogi State has denied suspending Dino Melaye, calling ths news of the suspension fake.

Dino Melaye, the former senator representing Kogi West senatorial district, was supposedly suspended for anti-party activities by his Ayetoro/Iluagba Ward 1.

In a memo dated September 12, the ward executive committee said that Melaye was summoned to a disciplinary committee in August to address the allegations of misconduct but he did not attend the meeting.

The memo stated that the suspension was in accordance with Article 59(1) of the PDP Constitution, which authorizes the Ward Party Exco to take disciplinary action against members who violate the rules.

However, in a statement issued yesterday, the PDP Chairman in Ijumu LGA, Olorunmaiye Olabode, said the suspension will not stand and stated that the letter was ridiculously and hurriedly written, pointing out mistakes in the day and date.

The statement said: “We stand firmly with the party, the Constitution thereof, and the Guidelines & Regulations that are issued from time to time. We stand by the fact that no materials were brought to Ijumu LGA to carry out the Ward Ad hoc Congress on the 27th of July, 2024.

“We stand by the truth that no LGA Congress was held in Ijumu LGA at any time to elect a National Delegate. We did not participate in the purported State Congress, which was illegally held in Lokoja on the 31st of August, 2024, knowing that it was a failed kangaroo arrangement.

“We are aware of a memo in circulation which was concocted by external enemies of the party from outside Ijumu, who are forces of destabilization and who want to remove our leader, the leader of the party in the state, His Excellency, Senator Dino Melaye, who is the voice of the voiceless, so they can ride roughshod over loyal party members in Kogi State.

“We categorically and unequivocally state that the said purported letter of expulsion is a forgery and cannot stand. It is so ridiculously and hurriedly written that the day and date do not tally.

“We also state that such a correspondence, which is meant to expel an important member of the Party like Senator Dino Melaye, cannot be handled in this criminal manner. No PDP member in Kogi has done what our leader has done nationally for the PDP.

“We challenge these traducers to mention any anti-party activities of Senator Dino Melaye. The man who still pays for the accommodation of the Party at the state headquarters, paid salaries of staff, bought 10,000 copies of membership cards just last month and distributed them among party members and new joiners, and gave 2 million naira to the party just last month as running costs.

“We, therefore, state for the record that it is a breach of the Party’s Constitution not to follow due process in the haste to execute this malicious and mischievous plan. We urge all members of the party in Ijumu and the state as a whole to disregard the purported dismissal or expulsion of our stau

In the statement above, The Chairman challenged those accusing Dino Melaye of wrongdoing to show proof of his alleged anti-party activities. He also pointed out that he had made important contributions to the party, including financial assistance, giving out membership cards as well as standing out as a voice to the voiceless.

When contacted to get his response on the matter, Dino Melaye said: “The fact speaks for itself. I am a bona fide member of the party. My Ward has spoken.”

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