The Democratic Leadership Alliance (DLA) has rejected claims by former presidential aspirant, Abisayo Modupe, that she was unjustly disqualified from the party’s presidential screening process, insisting that her exclusion was carried out in line with its constitution and established guidelines.
The party stated this in a response issued on Sunday and signed by its Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Judith Aguenu, describing Modupe’s allegations as inaccurate and misleading.
The controversy comes after the DLA recently announced Barrister Samuel Memeh as its presidential candidate for the 2027 general election.
According to the party, Modupe’s disqualification was the outcome of a properly conducted screening exercise involving multiple aspirants who purchased nomination forms and participated in the selection process.
The DLA explained that four aspirants in total contested for the party’s presidential ticket and were subjected to evaluation based on constitutional requirements and internal guidelines.
It added that only candidates who met the necessary criteria were cleared to advance in the process, while others, including Modupe, were not approved by the relevant party organs after assessment.
The party maintained that her exclusion was not arbitrary but followed due process as provided in its internal regulations.
Aguenu further stated that no other aspirant within the party had challenged the credibility or fairness of the exercise, noting that grievances raised by Modupe were not channelled through internal dispute resolution structures.
Instead, the party accused her of taking the matter to public platforms and social media rather than using established party mechanisms for appeal.
The DLA emphasised that it would not allow individual dissatisfaction to undermine its internal democratic procedures or institutional integrity.
It described itself as an organisation committed to discipline, accountability, and respect for party structures, stressing that leadership selection must be guided by competence and adherence to due process.
The party also dismissed any suggestion that Modupe’s disqualification was influenced by gender bias, stating that it remains committed to promoting women’s participation in politics and leadership roles.
It urged the public to disregard what it termed misleading narratives surrounding the dispute, reaffirming its commitment to internal democracy and credible political leadership.
The DLA concluded that political ambition must always align with respect for party rules and institutional processes, especially in the selection of candidates for public office.