UCP Calgary-North East constituency president says members who quit en masse were not actually on board

The United Conservative Party says the constituency association board members who collectively resignedMonday in protest of party leadershipwere not actually members of the board and some, never even members of the party.

But one of those named in the resignation lettersays he is indeed the board's former president and he strongly disputes the party's denial.

Both sides have a different story, and both say they can prove it.

Sajid Majeed says he joined the United Conservative Party'sCalgary-North East Constituency Association last summer and was elected as president. He says he then stepped down as president earlier this year, but continued to serve as board chair untilultimately handing in his resignation on Monday.

He was one of 10 peoplewho signed a resignation letter this week, saying theylost faith in party leadership.

"This is not propaganda, this is not fake, this is real. If they want to close their eyes to the reality, it's up to them," Majeed told CBC News on Tuesday.

The letter was released on social media by a spokesperson for the group, Aryan Sadat, who forwarded an email to CBCwhich appears to show him sending the resignation letter to the UCP's executive director.

• UCP denies mass resignation of Calgary-North East constituency board

But the UCP says the resignation letter didn't actually come from directors who sat on theboard.

"We have looked into this, and sevenof the 10 names on Mr. Sadat's email are not members of the board. Some are not members of the party. We are still working to confirm on the other three," party executive director Janice Harrington said in an emailed statement Tuesday.

"We have not received any resignations from anyone, beyond Mr. Sadat who was also not a member of the board and has no specific standing in the party. I can confirm that Sajid Majeed was not and is not a member of the board and he was not the president of the constituency association."

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I didn't receive any information from anyone in regard to cancelling and then I actually started going through the names and I didn't recognize any none of these people I've ever met before.- Joseph Fernandez

The UCP said JosephFernandez is the current president of the constituency association board.

The UCP provided CBC with a document that confirmedFernandez is the current president of the board. The party also said there is no such position as board chair.

Fernandez, who said he was elected as board president on Jan. 23,first heard of the resignation letter through a post on a community Facebook page.

"I'm wondering what board this is and I'm like, 'wait a second, that's my board, I'm the president of this board,'" he said in an interview Tuesday.

"So I checked my email immediately. I didn't receive any information from anyone in regard to cancelling and then I actually started going through the names and I didn't recognize any. None of these people I've ever met before."

Majeed said he was a member of the board up until Monday's resignation, and that he can prove it. He shared his UCP membership number, as well as the numbers of two others listed on the resignation letter, with CBC News. CBC has reached out to the UCP to confirm those memberships are still active but the party has not yet responded.

"We were the board members. We have our memberships, the names and everything and they have ourphone numbers," Majeed said. "If they had any problem, why don't they call that name which is on the listto make sure?And then we will confirm it."

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The Calgary-North East riding has been plagued with controversy, with reports of ballot stuffing at the UCP constituency association's meeting in June 2018 andallegations of voter fraud in the NDP nomination race. The NDP has said it stands by the party'sprocess, and followed ID requirements set by Elections Alberta.

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Majeet said he feels the UCP is trying to brush what he describes as "the realboard's resignation" under the rug because their choice of spokesperson, Sadat, is not currently a member of the UCP or constituency association.

Sadat indicated last summer that he wanted to run for nomination with the UCP. He said he withdrew his nomination in January due to frustrations with the party after submitting police clearances.

But the party said Sadat was informed he wouldn't passUCPcandidate screening due to "past, well-publicized issues."

Sadat was granted a pardon for a criminal conviction for a 2006 drug possession charge, and faced nearly five dozen other charges between 2003 and 2010 but those charges were withdrawn, stayed or dismissed in court. The past charges came to light when Sadat was running as a candidate for city council.

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Ummar Riaz, one of those listed as a board member on the resignation letter, also insisted he sat on the board.

He said those listed on the resignation letter chose Sadat as spokesperson because he's a respected community leader, even though he's not a member of the constituency association.

CBC News has reached out to the UCP candidate for the riding, Rajan Sawhney, for comment. When reached Monday evening, she said she had not heard about the resignations.

Sadat's full statements can be read below:

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