Ontario Progressive Conservative party president Rick Dykstra has resigned.

Dykstra announced on Twitter Sunday night that he would be stepping down from his position.

“It has been a wonderful experience to watch the party’s renewal, and over the next couple of months we will see the party coalesce around a new Leader,” read his statement.

Dykstra was the Ontario PC party president since March 2016.

“After two years in this position, I know the party is prepared to take on the hard work necessary to fight this election.”

His resignation comes after Patrick Brown stepped down as the party leader amid allegations of sexual misconduct involving teenagers. This was followed by the party coming under fire for questionable spending during Brown’s tenure.

Brown stepped down on Wednesday, hours after CTV reported the allegations, which stemmed from two incidents while he was a Conservative MP.

In 2015, Dykstra faced allegations that he knowingly bought alcohol for underage girls at a nightclub in St. Catharines. At the time Dykstra was a Conservative MP seeking re-election in the St. Catharines riding.

He denied that he knew the girls were underage, since the nightclub was a licensed establishment where customers are required to be 19 years old.

Buzzfeed was the first to report that two of the underage girls tweeted about Dykstra buying them six bottles worth $170 each. One of the girls told Buzzfeed she was 16 and alleged she was later offered a bribe by a Dykstra supporter to deny it had ever happened.

On Saturday morning, Ottawa businessman and party fundraiser Thom Bennett sent a confidential memo to members of the PC Ontario alleging excess funds were spent on legal fees.

“I want to make a motion stating that all payments of funds to reimburse lawyers defending legal suits against the PC Party of Ontario cease — immediately,” wrote Bennett.

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Dykstra did not return the Star’s request for comment regarding the allegations of questionable spending.

“It’s important that our caucus have a very serious look at the accusations that are made in the letter,” interim leader Vic Fedeli told the Star.

With files from Robert Benzie and The Canadian Press

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