Victor Ezeja
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has suspended former Senator Dino Melaye over allegations of misconduct and anti-party activities.
Melaye, a former senator representing Kogi West in the Nigerian Senate and governorship candidate of the PDP in the November 2023 election in the state, was suspended by his ward party executive committee in Ayetoro/Iluagba Ward 1.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelThis was confirmed in a letter sighted by Prime Business Africa on Friday.
According to the letter, the ward executives made the decision after reviewing the report of the disciplinary committee set up to investigate Melaye’s actions.
The ward executives said Melaye’s actions of late have brought embarrassment and disrepute to the party.
They asserted that their action of suspending Melaye is backed by provisions of Article 59 (1) of the PDP constitution.
“Senator Dino Melaye’s conduct has brought embarrassment and disrepute to the party and his continued membership is no longer tenable.
“Therefore, the Ward party exco hereby suspends Dino Melaye from the Peoples Democratic Party, effective and immediately,” part of the letter signed by the Ward Chairman, Abayomi Osamika and Ward Secretary, Yodson Dayo read.
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“The suspension is in line with provisions of Article 59 (1) of the PDP constitution which empowers the Ward party excos to take disciplinary actions against erring members.”
The decision came after a meeting of the Ward Party Executive Committee of PDP in Ayetoro/lluagba ward on Friday, 12th September 2024 to review the report of the disciplinary committee set up to investigate alleged anti party activities against Senator Melaye.
The ward executives said that Melaye was invited to appear before the Disciplinary Committee on 20th August 2024 to respond to some allegations of misconduct and anti-party activities, in line with the provisions of Article 57(4), of the PDP Constitution, but he failed to show up.
The letter said that after careful consideration and deliberation, the Ward Party Executives resolved as follows:
“1. That Senator Dino Melaye’s failure to appear before the Disciplinary Committee constitutes a gross disrespect to the party and its leadership.
“2. That his actions are in clear violation of the PDP Constitution and the principles of party discipline.
“3. That Senator Dino Melaye’s conduct has brought embarrassment and disrepute to the party, and his continued membership is no longer tenable.
“Therefore, the Ward Party Exco hereby suspends Senator Dino Melaye from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), effective immediately.
“This suspension is in line with the provisions of Article 59(1) of the PDP Constitution, which empowers the Ward Party Exco to take disciplinary actions against erring members.”
They urged all members of the party to remain committed to the principles of party discipline and loyalty, adding “We must work together to build a strong and united party, capable of winning elections and serving the interests of our people.”
This action is coming days after Melaye alleged that the PDP has been commercialised and privatised.
In a post via his X handle, the former Kogi West Senator argued that the PDP had lost its relevance in the country’s political space.
Melaye accused the acting National Chairman of the party, Iliya Damagum; the National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu, and the National Organising Secretary, Umar Bature, of destroying the party.
“End of the road for PDP as Damagum, Bature and Anyanwu, irredeemably destroyed the party. We will talk about the commercialisation and privatisation of PDP. PDP is now once upon a time,” he wrote.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with seven years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Master's degree in Mass Communication.
