Abisayo Busari-Akinnadeju, a former presidential hopeful under the Democratic Leadership Alliance (DLA), has stepped down from the party, alleging moves by its leadership to force a consensus flagbearer ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The Ondo State-born legal practitioner and chartered arbitrator announced her departure in a statement on Friday, explaining that she could no longer operate within a political structure she believes has weakened internal democratic processes.
She described her exit as a response to what she called a pattern of exclusion in the party’s presidential selection exercise, which she said deprived contestants of equal opportunity.
Busari-Akinnadeju stated that she had paid the required nomination fee in April 2026 and passed through screening, where she was initially cleared, but later found herself facing disciplinary proceedings allegedly connected to a private WhatsApp exchange.
She claimed the disciplinary action was carried out without proper notice or full disclosure of the allegations, and further noted that the panel was chaired by the party’s National Legal Adviser.
She also alleged that directives were issued to state chairmen to avoid the presidential primary and instead submit outcomes to the national secretariat, a process she insisted was designed to produce a predetermined consensus candidate.
According to her, such an arrangement runs contrary to the Electoral Act 2026, which she interpreted as requiring unanimous agreement from all cleared aspirants for consensus, with direct primaries mandated where agreement is absent.
The former aspirant maintained that she withdrew from the process because she could not be part of what she considered an unfair and compromised arrangement, stressing that her participation was originally based on open competition and democratic principles.
She further disclosed that her resignation letter was submitted on May 28, 2026, adding that her public declaration was deliberately aligned with Inauguration Day to emphasize the importance of electoral integrity.
Busari-Akinnadeju said she would henceforth channel her energy into non-partisan civic engagement through the Dare Agenda and the #DareNigeria movement, noting that national development goes beyond party politics.
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