The Ijumu chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has declared that Senator Dino Melaye is not suspended, contrary to reports circulating in the media.

In a strongly-worded statement, the party’s chairman, Hon. Olorunmaiye Olabode, described the purported letter of expulsion as a “ridiculously and hurriedly written” forgery.

The statement said the letter was concocted by external enemies of the party who are bent on destabilizing the party and removing Senator Melaye, who is the voice of the voiceless.

The communique read as follows “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 held in Ijumu LGA at any time to elect 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 made aware of a communique 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 as Senator Dino Melaye, a prominent member Of the Party, member cannot be handled in this criminal manner, no PDP member in Kogi has done what our leader has done nationally for the PDP nationally.

“We challenge these traducers to mention the anti-part activities of Senator Dino Melaye. The man who still paid for the accommodation of the party at the state headquarters and paid salaries of staff. Bought 10,000 copies of membership cards just last month and shared among party members and new joiners. He gave 2 million naira to the party just last month as a running cost.

“We therefore here state for the records that it is a breach of the Constitution of the Party not to follow due process in the haste to execute the 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 staunch, loyal, committed, unflinching State leader who abhors anti-party activities in all ramifications for which reason he is being vilified by agents of destruction.”

Recall that Melaye, a close ally of the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar was suspended on Friday.

The suspension was announced by the Ward executive committee of Ayetoro Gbede, Ward 1, following Melaye’s refusal to honour a summon.

Melaye was suspended for engaging in anti-party activities and alleged misconduct, which is said to have brought embarrassment and disrepute to the party.