The Democratic Leadership Alliance has refunded N10 million nomination fee paid by its former presidential aspirant, Mrs Abisayo Busari-Akinnadeju, following her withdrawal from the party’s 2027 presidential race.
Busari-Akinnadeju disclosed this in a statement made available to journalists on Friday in Akure.
She said the party refunded N10.8 million, adding that an outstanding N1.2 million was yet to be paid.
The politician resigned from the party on May 28 after accusing its leadership of imposing a consensus presidential candidate in violation of the Electoral Act.
She said, “I want to say that the Democratic Leadership Alliance 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.
“I resigned from the DLA on May 28 because of the imposition of a consensus candidate by means that did not comply with the Electoral Act 2026 and the use of a disciplinary process to remove me as a cleared aspirant when I could not endorse consensus mode.
“I acknowledge receipt of N10.8 million of the Presidential nomination fee I paid in April 2026. 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.”
However, Busari-Akinnadeju said the refund did not resolve the concerns she raised about the conduct of 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 restore 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,” he said.
The former aspirant alleged that there were attempts to prevent her participation in the party’s presidential primary.
She said, “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.”
According to her, the Electoral Act 2026 does not permit consensus candidature without the written consent of all cleared aspirants.
She added that her concern had gone beyond recovering her money, noting that aspiring politicians should be guaranteed fair participation in the political process.
Busari-Akinnadeju thanked Nigerians who supported her position, saying public attention contributed to the refund of the nomination fee.
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