EDMONTON - A man who wanted to run as a candidate in the upcoming Alberta election is filing a lawsuit against the Progressive Conservative party.
Donald Martin is suing for defamation after the Tories disqualified him from running in the riding of Edmonton-Decore.
He says he was wrongly accused of offering a bribe to another candidate and forced out of the nomination race.
The lawsuit names the Progressive Conservation Association of Alberta and executive director Kelly Charlebois.
It also lists the unknown author of an affidavit, who claims Martin offered the bribe.
The accused parties have not yet filed statements of defence, and none of the allegations have been proven in court.
The lawsuit says Charlebois phoned Martin on March 6 to tell him of the affidavit and demand that he withdraw or he would be disqualified.
He refused to step aside, he says, and was later informed that he was no longer a valid candidate.
"The plaintiff was not offered the opportunity to rebut these allegations or make any representations on his own behalf," the lawsuit says.
"The plaintiff maintains that the allegations regarding offering a monetary bribe are entirely false."
Premier Jim Prentice announced Tuesday that Albertans will go to the polls on May 5.
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