Party Refunds ₦10.8 Million Nomination Fee To Female Presidential Aspirant

Party Refunds ₦10.8 Million Nomination Fee To Female Presidential Aspirant
She resigned over alleged irregularities in the party’s primary process.
Former aspirant says refund does not address concerns over transparency.

The Democratic Leadership Alliance (DLA) has refunded ₦10.8 million to its former presidential aspirant, Abisayo Busari-Akinnadeju, following her resignation from the party over disagreements surrounding its presidential candidate selection process.

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EKO HOT BLOG reports that Busari-Akinnadeju confirmed the refund in a statement issued to journalists on Friday, noting that while the party had returned ₦10.8 million of her nomination fee, an outstanding balance of ₦1.2 million was yet to be paid.

“I want to say that the Democratic Leadership Alliance (DLA) has refunded the presidential nomination fee I paid in April 2026, in respect of my aspiration for the Office of President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in the 2027 general election,” she stated.

She explained that she resigned from the party on May 28, alleging that the emergence of a consensus candidate did not comply with provisions of the Electoral Act 2026.

According to her, she was removed as a cleared aspirant through a disciplinary process after refusing to endorse the consensus arrangement.

“I acknowledge receipt of N10.8 million of the Presidential nomination fee I paid in April 2026, and I note that a further N1.2 million remains outstanding. I am grateful that the party has chosen to do the right thing in this respect,” she said.

Despite receiving the refund, Busari-Akinnadeju maintained that the payment did not address what she described as flaws in the party’s presidential primary process.

“It is important, however, that the meaning of this refund is not misunderstood. The return of the money does not return the integrity of the process.

“It is an acknowledgement that the original collection was indefensible. It is not a remedy for what was done in the weeks between the collection and the return,” she added.

The former aspirant further alleged that there were deliberate attempts to prevent her participation in the screening process and that party officials were directed to transmit voting figures to the national secretariat rather than attend the presidential primary.

“There was an intentional attempt to stop me from being screened, a disciplinary action to complete the process after screening.

“The state chairmen of the party were directed not to attend the presidential primary at the headquarters, but to transmit figures to the national secretariat so that a candidate could be produced by a purported consensus,” she alleged.

Busari-Akinnadeju argued that the Electoral Act 2026 does not permit a consensus candidate without the written consent of all cleared aspirants, questioning the disciplinary measures taken against her.

“My removal, through a disciplinary process convened on three days notice and conducted without particulars, was the route by which that statutory obstacle was cleared.

“Those facts are not undone by a bank transfer. My concern is no longer about my own money. It is about the next aspirant, in this party or any other, whose money may not come back so quickly because she does not have the standing or the platform to demand it,” she said.

She also thanked Nigerians who supported her position during the dispute, saying public attention played a major role in securing the refund.

“I thank the Nigerians who stood with me through the past week, who read, who watched, who shared, who wrote, and who made it impossible for this story to be treated as private.

“The strength of public attention is what made this refund possible. The same strength will be needed for the larger work,” she added.

Party Refunds ₦10.8 Million Nomination Fee To Female Presidential Aspirant

Busari-Akinnadeju disclosed that she has now adopted a non-partisan approach and launched a civic platform aimed at promoting purposeful leadership and citizen participation in governance.

“The Office of the Nigerian Citizen is open. The Dare Agenda is in motion. The country cannot wait until 2027, and I will not be waiting until then to do the work I am here to do,” she said.