New party, DLA holds convention, faults zoning

The newly registered Democratic Leadership Alliance (DLA) yesterday held its national convention and faulted the zoning arrangement in Nigeria’s presidential politics ahead of the 2027 general election. DLA insisted that leadership should be based on competence rather than regional considerations. The party also criticised the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration, blaming worsening economic hardship, insecurity […]

The newly registered Democratic Leadership Alliance (DLA) yesterday held its national convention and faulted the zoning arrangement in Nigeria’s presidential politics ahead of the 2027 general election.

DLA insisted that leadership should be based on competence rather than regional considerations.

The party also criticised the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration, blaming worsening economic hardship, insecurity and rising poverty on what it described as a failure of leadership in the country.

Speaking at the party’s first National Convention on Wednesday in Abuja, the National Chairman of the DLA, Samuel Memeh, said Nigeria’s major challenge was not a lack of resources but the absence of credible leadership.

Memeh said the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)-led government had subjected Nigerians to severe economic difficulties, rising inflation and declining living standards.

He added that governance must return to the centre of national priorities through practical policies capable of improving the lives of ordinary Nigerians.

The DLA chairman announced that the party would not zone its presidential ticket to the South, saying the decision was aimed at promoting national unity and inclusiveness.

“We believe Nigeria can only truly progress when leadership is seen as a national responsibility rather than a regional entitlement,” he stated.

Memeh described the DLA as Nigeria’s first ideologically driven political party, founded on leadership development, institutional reforms, science and technology-driven growth, accountability and national unity.

 

He said the party was committed to transitioning Nigeria from a consumption-driven economy to a production-based economy anchored on innovation, industrialisation and agriculture.

 

Memeh further disclosed that 98 per cent of the party’s founding members were youths below the age of 30, describing the DLA as a movement for generational transformation rather than political survival.

 

The DLA chairman noted that out of the 171 associations that applied for registration with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the DLA was the only association that fulfilled all legal requirements and secured registration on February 5, 2026.