2027: DLA opens presidential ticket to all regions, rejects zoning

The Democratic Leadership Alliance has thrown its presidential ticket open to all parts of the country ahead of the 2027 general election, distancing itself from the zoning arrangement adopted by some political parties.

Speaking at the party’s maiden national convention in Abuja on Wednesday, the National Chairman, Samuel Memeh, said the decision was aimed at promoting national unity and ensuring that competence, rather than regional considerations, determines leadership emergence within the party.

The DLA, one of the newly registered political parties preparing for the 2027 polls, said it deliberately refused to restrict its presidential ticket to the South despite ongoing national conversations around power rotation.

“As part of our commitment to national unity and integration, the Democratic Leadership Alliance has taken the deliberate decision not to zone its presidential ticket to the Southern part of Nigeria.

“This decision is not intended to diminish any region of the country, but rather to strengthen national unity, deepen inclusiveness, and demonstrate that the future of Nigeria must be built on competence, patriotism, and collective national interest above sectional considerations.

“We believe that Nigeria can only truly progress when leadership is seen as a national responsibility rather than a regional entitlement. Our goal is to build a political culture where every Nigerian, regardless of tribe, religion, or region, sees themselves first as citizens of one united nation,” Memeh said.

The party chairman said the DLA emerged out of the desire to build what he described as a value-driven political alternative, insisting that the party was founded by ordinary Nigerians rather than entrenched political interests.

According to him, the DLA was the only association among the 171 groups that applied for registration to fully satisfy constitutional requirements laid down by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

Although INEC has in recent years received dozens of applications from political associations seeking registration, only a few have advanced through the regulatory process following stricter conditions introduced after the deregistration of several parties in 2020.

Memeh said the DLA intends to position itself as a reform-oriented political movement focused on leadership, institutional accountability and economic productivity.

He said the party was determined to “rewrite the political and developmental history of Nigeria” by replacing “corruption with competence, division with unity, hopelessness with opportunity, and failure with vision-driven governance.”

He stressed that credible leadership in Nigeria must begin with three major commitments — institutionalising leadership development, restoring integrity to public institutions and placing national interest above personal ambition.

“Nigeria can only move forward when leaders begin to think about future generations rather than the next election,” he added.

Projecting the party’s vision for the country, Memeh said, “the future of Nigeria under the DLA is a future of possibilities, leading to a productive economy, secure communities, empowered youths, industrial growth, independent institutions, technological advancement, and responsible governance.

“We envision a Nigeria where every child has access to quality education, where farmers are protected, where businesses can thrive, where justice is accessible, and where leadership serves the people faithfully,” he added.

He described the convention as more than a routine political gathering, saying it marked “the beginning of a national movement to redefine leadership and governance in Nigeria.”

According to him, the convention also signalled “that a new political culture has emerged in Nigeria — one rooted in ideas, integrity, innovation, and responsible leadership.”

He further argued that the convention marked the formal establishment of a movement built on ideas, discipline, leadership, and national transformation, the laying of a solid foundation for what shall become one of the greatest political reform movements in the history of Nigeria.

Memeh blamed Nigeria’s socio-economic challenges on what he called a longstanding leadership crisis.

“Nigeria is blessed with enormous human and natural resources, yet millions of our citizens continue to suffer from poverty, unemployment, insecurity, weak institutions, and economic instability.

“The difference between prosperous nations and struggling nations is leadership. Credible leadership is not built on propaganda, intimidation, ethnic sentiments, or empty promises. Credible leadership is built on vision, competence, integrity, accountability, courage, and sacrifice,” he said.

He also criticised what he described as Nigeria’s dependence on consumption-driven economics.

“We believe that Nigeria cannot continue to operate a consumption-driven economy while expecting prosperity. A nation that consumes more than it produces will remain economically dependent and vulnerable,” he added.

On insecurity and the recurring clashes involving farmers and herders, the DLA chairman said poor regulation of cattle business operations had worsened violence and food insecurity across several parts of the country.

“One of the most worrisome situations confronting Nigeria today is the unregulated and poorly managed cattle business across the country and the continued neglect of the protection of farmers, farmlands, and farming communities. This challenge has contributed immensely to violent conflicts, destruction of farmlands, displacement of rural populations, food insecurity, and widespread insecurity across many parts of Nigeria.

“The consequences have been devastating. Rural communities that should be centers of agricultural productivity have become zones of fear, instability, and economic destruction. Farmers can no longer safely access their farms, food production continues to decline, and millions of Nigerians are bearing the burden through rising hunger and poverty,” he said.

The emergence of the DLA comes amid growing political realignments ahead of the 2027 elections, with several groups seeking to establish alternatives to the country’s dominant parties — the ruling All Progressives Congress and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party. Political observers say smaller parties are increasingly attempting to capitalise on public frustration over economic hardship, insecurity and governance concerns across the country.