The party has also summoned Bayonga before its Disciplinary Committee to explain his role in the endorsement, warning that disciplinary measures could follow if an investigation establishes that he breached its constitution or rules.

The development followed a declaration on Friday, October 16, 2026, when Bayonga led a forum of DLA governorship candidates in Abuja to announce support for Tinubu’s second-term ambition.

The candidates said their endorsement was specifically for the presidential election and would not affect their plans to contest governorship and other elective positions under the DLA platform. They also ruled out defecting to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).


However, in a statement issued on Saturday, the DLA’s National Chairman and Leader, Samuel Memeh, said the party became aware of the endorsement through reports circulating on social media.

Memeh maintained that the party had not approved any endorsement of a presidential candidate outside its platform. He said the DLA remained committed to its constitution, political principles and collective decisions, stressing that individual political ambitions must not override the authority of the party.

According to the chairman, the party had begun examining the circumstances surrounding the announcement and had invited Bayonga to appear before its Disciplinary Committee to respond to the issues raised.


He said any disciplinary action would be taken in line with the party’s constitution and established procedures, adding that the process would respect due process while protecting the party’s institutional integrity.

Memeh warned that the DLA would not tolerate unauthorised political commitments or conduct capable of undermining its unity, credibility and collective interests. He also urged members and supporters to avoid drawing conclusions before the disciplinary process is completed.

The disagreement has exposed a difference between the position taken by the forum of governorship candidates and that of the party’s national leadership.


While Bayonga presented the endorsement as a collective decision by the candidates, the party leadership has insisted that the move was not authorised at the national level.

The DLA chairman also said the party was repositioning ahead of the 2027 general elections, with plans to strengthen its structures from ward and local government levels to the state and national levels.

He said the party intended to reinforce internal discipline and accountability, develop its ideology and build an organised political platform capable of presenting Nigerians with an alternative to existing political arrangements. Memeh also highlighted ethical leadership, justice and a science- and technology-driven economy among the principles the party seeks to promote.


He called on party leaders, candidates and members to focus on strengthening the DLA, expanding its structures and preparing for the forthcoming elections.

The party’s disciplinary process will determine whether Bayonga’s participation in the endorsement violated its rules. Until the investigation is concluded, the DLA has urged the public not to assume that sanctions have already been imposed.


Reporting by TalkNaija Media