DLA summons Taraba candidate after Tinubu endorsement

The Democratic Leadership Alliance (DLA) announced that it had disowned its candidate for the Taraba State governorship, Aboki Bayonga, after he publicly endorsed President Bola Tinubu for a second term in the 2027 presidential election.

On 16 October 2026, Bayonga organised a forum of DLA governorship candidates in Taraba and declared his support for Tinubu. He later clarified that the endorsement did not mean he was abandoning the party and that he would continue to contest the election under the DLA banner.

The DLA’s national chairman, Samuel Memeh, issued a statement the following day. He said the party had not authorised any endorsement of a political candidate outside its platform and that its national leadership had only become aware of the development after reports began circulating on social media. Memeh warned that individual interests would not override the party’s constitution, ideology and collective decisions.

In response, the DLA has initiated disciplinary proceedings. Bayonga has been summoned to appear before the party’s Disciplinary Committee to explain his actions. The chairman emphasised that the investigation would be conducted in accordance with the DLA Constitution and that appropriate sanctions would be imposed if a breach of party rules was established.

The party stressed its commitment to honour, integrity, discipline and responsible leadership, and stated that it would not sacrifice these values for personal interests or political expediency. Members were assured that the disciplinary process would follow due process and that the DLA would not tolerate indiscipline among its leaders.

The incident has highlighted the DLA’s stance on maintaining internal discipline and its willingness to act against members who act outside the party’s established guidelines. The outcome of the disciplinary proceedings will determine whether Bayonga remains on the party’s ticket for the Taraba governorship election.

The DLA’s swift response underscores its focus on upholding its constitutional principles and protecting its institutional integrity amid the political climate surrounding the upcoming 2027 presidential election.