By Ahmed Akanbi

A former presidential aspirant of the Democratic Leadership Alliance, DLA, Abisayo Busari-Akinnadeju, has resigned from the party over alleged imposition of a consensus candidate ahead of the 2027 general election.

Busari-Akinnadeju, a legal practitioner and Chartered Arbitrator, announced her resignation in a statement weekend in Akure, saying she could no longer remain in a party that denied members the right to freely determine their candidate.

The Ondo-born aspirant disclosed that she formally tendered her resignation letter on May 28, 2026.

She said the decision was made public on Inauguration Day because of the significance of the occasion to Nigeria’s democratic process.

“Inauguration Day reminds us that leaders derive authority from the freely expressed will of the people,” she stated.

Busari-Akinnadeju explained that she paid the presidential nomination fee in April 2026 and was duly screened and cleared by the party’s screening committee.

She, however, said her clearance later became subject to a disciplinary process linked to a private WhatsApp message.

According to her, the disciplinary panel sat without adequate notice and without giving her the particulars of the allegation.

She added that the panel was chaired by the party’s National Legal Adviser.

The former aspirant further alleged that state chairmen of the DLA were directed not to attend the presidential primary election.

She claimed they were instead asked to transmit figures to the National Secretariat to enable the emergence of a consensus candidate.

Busari-Akinnadeju maintained that the move violated the Electoral Act 2026, citing Section 87(1) of the Act, which requires the written consent of all cleared aspirants before a consensus candidate can emerge.

She also referenced Section 84(1), which mandates direct primaries where such consent cannot be obtained.

The former aspirant said she refused to support any consensus arrangement and alleged that her removal as a cleared aspirant paved the way for the process to proceed.

She stated that she would now return to non-partisan civic engagement through the Dare Agenda and the #DareNigeria movement.

“The work of building a country that is fair to all of its citizens does not belong to any single party. It belongs to all of us, and it continues..

“What 2027 will require of me, I will decide with the Nigerians who have walked this road with me, and at the time it is right to decide,” Busari-Akinnadeju said.