Get Guardian on GoogleThe Democratic Leadership Alliance (DLA) has suspended all presidential campaign activities and public appearances relating to the candidature of its 2027 presidential flagbearer, Dr. Moses Adebisi Adesoji, pending the resolution of disciplinary proceedings against him.
The party said Adesoji was the subject of ongoing criminal investigations by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Nigeria Police Force over concerns arising from a personal financial undertaking, including an alleged dud cheque issued by him.
The National Chairman and Leader of the party, Samuel Memeh, who disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday, said the party had initiated internal disciplinary proceedings over the matter following Adesoji’s emergence as its presidential candidate at the substitution primary held on August 20, 2026.
According to him, the party’s National Disciplinary Committee, in a letter dated August 29, invited Adesoji to appear before it on August 30 to respond to the issues raised.
Following the proceedings, the committee directed the suspension of all presidential campaign activities and public appearances relating to his candidature.
Memeh said the party had also formally referred the matter to the EFCC and the Inspector-General of Police for independent investigation.
He stressed that the party would not assume responsibility for personal financial undertakings, representations or transactions entered into by any individual without proper authorisation.
“The DLA wishes to emphasise that it will not assume responsibility for personal financial undertakings, representations, or transactions entered into by any individual without proper party authorisation.
“Mr. Adebisi remains responsible for his personal commitments and engagements, and the party will not permit its name, leadership, or institutional identity to be used to validate unauthorised activities.
“As a party founded on integrity, discipline, accountability, and ethical leadership, the DLA cannot compromise its standards for the ambition of any individual”, he said.
The chairman said the DLA had consequently distanced itself from Adesoji’s personal activities and political engagements that were not expressly authorised by the party.
He warned members of the public against treating his personal commitments as official party undertakings.
He reaffirmed the August 30 directive, adding that all presidential campaign activities and public projection relating to Adesoji’s candidature remained suspended until further notice.
The party also directed its candidates and campaign organisations not to campaign for Adesoji or display his photographs on posters, flyers, banners, billboards and digital materials in ways suggesting official party endorsement.
It said all campaigns and public political activities by its candidates would henceforth be regulated and supervised by the National Campaign Council under the authority of the National Working Committee and the party’s national leadership.
Memeh warned that any candidate or campaign organisation that disregarded the directives could face disciplinary action.
Despite the development, the party said it remained committed to participating in the 2027 general elections across other elective positions, including governorship, National Assembly and state Houses of Assembly.
It urged Nigerians to support its candidates, saying they were selected based on character, leadership capacity, competence, innovation and commitment to public service.
On the state of the nation, the DLA expressed concern over economic hardship, insecurity and governance challenges, calling on President Bola Tinubu and the Federal Government to account transparently for public revenue and expenditure.
The party also urged the Federal Government to recruit more security personnel, rebuild damaged security formations and establish additional security units in vulnerable communities, particularly rural and farming settlements.
It called on state governors to demonstrate greater innovation and provide measurable results in security, agriculture, education, healthcare, infrastructure and economic development.
The DLA said Nigeria needed leadership anchored on integrity, competence, institutional discipline and accountability, urging Nigerians to participate peacefully in the 2027 electoral process.
