Komolafe Resigns as Green Party Leader Over Election Failure and Financial Strain
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DNA Leader Arinthia Komolafe announced her resignation from the Democratic National Alliance, after the party’s third unsuccessful attempt at the electoral poll.
Komolafe made an official announcement at the party’s headquarters on Friday, citing various reasons, including a financial strain on her personal resources.
Komolafe acknowledged the difficulty of third parties to secure funding for campaigns, while admitting that she spent nearly six figures to fund the DNA’s recent political campaign.
“Third party politics in the Bahamas is brutal and extremely difficult. It involves taking on established guards of the PLP and the FNM,” she said.
Komolafe lamented the current model of operation within the party stating it is unsustainable since the party depends on volunteers. Komolafe said during her tenure, she served as the financier of operations, writer of press releases and charged the administrative work of the party.
She said the candidates in the recent election personally funded their campaigns.
The big picture
Arinthia Komolafe succeeded the party’s founder Branville McCartney, to become leader of the party in 2017.
In the run up to the election, the party faced internal turmoil and fighting made public.
In the 2021 early election, the party suffered its worst support, garnering only 1,742 votes in 22 seats; in 2017, the DNA received 7,537 votes in its run for 39 constituencies; and in 2012, the DNA got more than 13,000 votes in 13 constituencies.
Why it matters
A third party has never won a general election nor seats in the House of Assembly. Leaders of third parties wound up joining the established parties after being wooed by positions and support.
Komolafe was praised as the first woman leader of a political party. However, she seemed to have never electrified her base.
What’s next?
Komolafe said she will not leave front line politics. But at the moment, she will focus on personal endeavors.
The party’s deputy leader Steven Nesbitt becomes interim leader.
