Commotion rocks Ondo DLA primaries as members reject consensus candidate

By Boye Oyeyemi

Tension flared in Akure, the Ondo State capital, on Saturday as members of the Democratic Leadership Alliance (DLA) protested the emergence of a consensus presidential candidate during the party’s primary election.

The protest was triggered by the absence of Mrs. Abisayo Busari-Akinnadeju, a former presidential aspirant who recently resigned from the party, from the list of contestants. Aggrieved members said they were denied the opportunity to support their preferred candidate.

Some party faithful openly expressed their displeasure at the development, alleging that the process failed to reflect the wishes of a significant section of the party’s membership in the state.

One of the protesters, Oluwanifemi Akinola, accused the party leadership of abandoning democratic principles, saying members were left confused by the circumstances that led to the emergence of the consensus candidate.

Akinola said many supporters were surprised to discover that Busari-Akinnadeju’s name was missing from the ballot despite what he described as her widespread support among party members in Ondo State.

Another member, Olajide Folorunso, described the situation as disappointing, noting that several delegates were reluctant to participate in the exercise following the exit of their preferred aspirant from the party.

Folorunso, however, commended the intervention of the state chairman, Oluwatosin Ayeni, for helping to restore order and prevent the protest from escalating into a more serious crisis.

Responding to the concerns, Ayeni appealed for calm and assured members that the party’s national leadership would address their grievances. He acknowledged the dissatisfaction surrounding Busari-Akinnadeju’s absence from the primary and disclosed that the party would take responsibility for the treatment of a member reportedly injured during the disturbance.