Senator Melaye:  LG Counters Expulsion From PDP,  Says Letter Invalid

By Ayodele Oni

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Ijumu chapter in Kogi State has issued a counter statement to deny the expulsion of the party’s former governorship candidate, Dino Melaye. It dismissed the letter as a forgery which lacks validity.

PDP Chairman,  Ijumu Local Government, Olorunmaiye Olabode, maintained that  “the purported letter of expulsion is a forgery and must be disregarded.

“Its careless and rushed composition reveals a mismatch between the day and date. Furthermore, such a correspondence aimed at expelling a vital member like Senator Dino Melaye—a key figure in the Party—cannot be treated with such negligence. No other PDP member in Kogi has contributed to the Party on a national level as he has.

“We challenge those spreading these falsehoods to specify any anti-party actions by Senator Dino Melaye.

“He has been instrumental in supporting the Party, covering the accommodation costs at the state headquarters, paying staff salaries, purchasing 10,000 membership cards last month to distribute among party members and newcomers, and donating 2 million naira to the party as recent operational funding.

“We assert for the record that bypassing due process to hastily implement such a malicious plan is a violation of the Party’s Constitution.

“We encourage all Party members in Ijumu and across the State to dismiss the unfounded claims of dismissal or expulsion against our steadfast, loyal, and committed State leader, who is unjustly targeted by agents of division.”

In a communique issued Friday in Lokoja, the party reaffirmed its commitment to the PDP constitution, guidelines, and regulations.

“We stand resolutely with the Party and its Constitution, as well as the Guidelines & Regulations issued periodically. It is a fact that no materials were delivered to Ijumu LGA to conduct the Ward Ad hoc Congress on July 27, 2024.

“We maintain that no LGA Congress occurred in Ijumu LGA to elect National Delegates. We did not participate in the so-called State Congress that was unlawfully conducted in Lokoja on August 31, 2024, recognizing it as a failed and deceptive arrangement.

“We are aware of a communique circulating that was fabricated by external adversaries of the Party, agents of destabilization who seek to undermine our leader in the State, His Excellency Senator Dino Melaye, the voice of the voiceless. Their goal is to trample on loyal Party members in Kogi State.”

A statement earlier also on Friday, had announced that the former senator was expelled for alleged anti party activities.

Melaye’s suspension was ratified by the executive committee of the party in Ayetoro Gbede, Ward 1 and was announced in a memo dated September 12, 2024.

The memo reads: “Ward Party Executive Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in Ayetoro/lluagba ward 1 met on Friday the 12th of September 2024 to review the report of the disciplinary committee set up to investigate alleged anti party activities against Senator Dino Melaye, a member of our great party.”

According to the party, Melaye was invited to appear before the Disciplinary Committee of the party on August 20, 2024 to answer to certain allegations of misconduct and anti-party activities, in line with the provisions of Article 57(4), of the PDP Constitution.

“However, he failed to show up, disregarding the invitation and the authority of the party.”