Winston Ennis, the former deputy mayor of Kingston, says he’s leaving the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) to become an independent.

He made the announcement in an audio release on Tuesday, saying he felt disrespected and was encouraged by his family to leave the party.

“I just want you all to know that I have walked away from the Jamaica Labour Party. I have to protect my dignity, I have to protect my values and I have to protect my family,” Ennis, who recently won re-election as councillor for the Waterloo Division in St Andrew North Central, said.

“The way I have been treated and disrespected, I am not having any more of it and I have walked away, so officially I am an independent,” he added.

Ennis’ departure from the JLP would break a 20-20 tie for the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC), following last week’s local government election, and give the People’s National Party (PNP) outright control of the parish council.

It would also split evenly, 7-7, the number of municipal corporations won by the two political parties.

Following several shifting counts, the Electoral Commission of Jamaica (ECJ) on Saturday said the JLP was victorious in St Thomas, Portland, Clarendon, St James, St Elizabeth, Trelawny and St Ann.

READ: It’s now JLP seven, PNP six as ECJ contradicts EOJ

It said the PNP was victorious in Westmoreland, Hanover, St Mary, St Catherine, Manchester and Portmore where it claimed nine of the 12 electoral divisions.

The ECJ at the time also reported a 20-20 tie for the KSAMC.