Despite not being named among the People’s National Party’s (PNP) candidates for the expected local government election, Uphell Purcell, the councillor for the York Town Division in the Clarendon Municipal Corporation says he plans to run as an independent candidate.

On Friday, news emerged that Pastor Anthony Davis had been selected by the Party to contest the upcoming local government election, constitutionally due by February 28.

In an interview with Observer Online, Purcell, who was video recorded in a compromising position last year, said he may not have been selected by the PNP to be their representative but he will still be on the ballot when Jamaicans go to the polls.

“I will be on the ballot when it comes that day – when election call. I will nominate and I will run because I’m not giving up my position,” he said. “I will be running as an Independent with all options opened wide, wide. I will be on the ballot no doubt about it, one way or the other.”

Purcell went on to share that when he was informed of the Party’s decision to no longer use him, he objected as he had been initially informed that he would be their candidate of choice.

“They did contact me and we talked and they told me they wanted to use the other man and mi tell them say mi object because I was officially engaged and certified as the candidate,” he said.

But Lothan Cousins, Member of Parliament for Clarendon South Western, told Observer Online that the party told Purcell he would not be selected as their candidate several months ago. Cousins insisted that the decision was not personal but was one made from polls and science.

“It was made clear to the Councillor that the decision wasn’t a personal one but was based on the polling that was done and the sounding that was done…political parties operate based on science, they don’t operate based on feelings,” he said.

Purcell has been the councillor for the division since 1998.

He found himself at the centre of controversy in March 2023 when a sex tape went viral. In the 64-second footage that caused a social media storm following its release, a nude Purcell is seen pleasuring himself for the other person on the call.