Ex-DLA presidential aspirant confirms partial refund of nomination fee, raises fresh concerns over primary process

Former presidential aspirant of the Democratic Leadership Alliance (DLA), Mrs. Abisayo Busari-Akinnadeju, has confirmed receiving a refund of ₦10.8 million from the party following her withdrawal from the 2027 presidential race.

Busari-Akinnadeju disclosed this in a statement on Friday, noting that while the party had returned the bulk of the nomination fee she paid in April 2026, an outstanding balance of ₦1.2 million was yet to be refunded.

According to her, the refund followed her resignation from the DLA on May 28 after disagreements over the party’s candidate selection process.

“I acknowledge receipt of ₦10.8 million out of the presidential nomination fee I paid. While I appreciate this action, a balance of ₦1.2 million remains outstanding,” she stated.

The former aspirant, however, stressed that the refund did not address what she described as fundamental concerns surrounding the integrity of the party’s presidential primary process.

She alleged that efforts were made to prevent her participation in the screening exercise and claimed that a disciplinary procedure was later deployed to remove her from the contest after she declined to endorse a consensus arrangement.

According to Busari-Akinnadeju, the issues at stake go beyond the reimbursement of funds and raise broader questions about internal democracy and compliance with electoral regulations.

“The return of the money does not resolve the concerns surrounding the process. It only addresses one aspect of a much larger issue involving transparency, fairness, and adherence to democratic principles,” she said.

She further alleged that state chairmen of the party were instructed not to attend the presidential primary but instead submit figures to the national secretariat as part of a process intended to produce a consensus candidate.

The former aspirant argued that the Electoral Act requires the consent of all cleared aspirants before a consensus candidate can emerge, insisting that such conditions were not met in her case.

She maintained that her experience points to the need for stronger safeguards to protect aspirants seeking elective offices, regardless of their financial capacity or political influence.

“My concern is no longer limited to the money. It is about ensuring that future aspirants are protected from similar experiences and that political participation remains fair and accessible to all Nigerians,” she said.

She thanked supporters, civil society groups, and members of the public who followed developments surrounding the matter, noting that public scrutiny played a key role in securing the refund.

Having resigned from partisan politics, Busari-Akinnadeju said she would now focus on the Dare Agenda Movement, a platform she described as dedicated to promoting purposeful leadership and citizen-driven governance.

According to her, the movement aims to mobilise Nigerians toward active engagement in nation-building beyond electoral cycles.

“The work of building a better Nigeria cannot wait until 2027. The Dare Agenda is already in motion, and we remain committed to pursuing leadership accountability and national development,” she added.