Why Doyin Okupe Dumped Labour Party — Doyin Okupe

Doyin Okupe, the former Director General of Peter Obi-Datti Presidential Campaign Organisation, has finally ditched from the Labour Party (LP), citing ideological schisms that emerged after the 2023 elections.

Okupe, who played a prominent role in the campaign, explained that his alignment with right-wing and liberal democratic principles clashed with the left-of-centre ideology of the Labour Party, making continued membership untenable.

In a letter made available to journalists on Monday, Okupe stated, “I submit herewith my letter of resignation from the Labour Party with effect from today. You will recall that our flagbearer, Mr Peter Obi, myself and others left the PDP abruptly and had to look for a Special Purpose Vehicle in which to contest the 2023 Presidential Elections. The Labour Party, your good self, and other members of your executives provided us with this veritable platform with no burdensomeness whatsoever and for which we were extremely grateful.” 

He continued that, “We did contest the election on the platform of the Labour Party and lost. This makes it exceedingly difficult for me to continue to stay in the Labour Party which is ideologically rooted in the left of the center. I have been a rightist and a Liberal Democrat all my entire life. It is therefore this ideological conflict that makes me seek an exit so that I may continue my political activities with liberalism, sincerity and freedom.”

Okupe expressed gratitude to the party leadership for the cordiality and respect accorded to him during the campaign. He concluded the letter with well wishes for the party’s future endeavours and for the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Meanwhile, Okupe could not complete his assignment as Director General of Peter Obi – Datti Presidential Campaign Organisation following his conviction in the law court for violating money laundering act.

In a letter on Tuesday, December, 2022, following the ruling of a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja that convicted him of violating the money laundering Act.

The letter was addressed to the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi.

In the letter, Okupe said, “Dear Peter, you will recall that I briefed you yesterday about my personal travails in seeking justice and clearing my name using the Nigerian legal system to pursue same.

“I have invested too much in your campaign to allow my personal travails to become a source of distraction.

“In the circumstances, I have decided to step aside and plead that you appoint a new campaign DG who can continue the assignment with zero distractions. God bless you and your family.”

Some pundits have posited that Okupe like he rightly said in his letter to the Presidential Standard Bearer of the Labour party he is fighting to clear his name of criminal conviction.

He may have decide to take the political pathway by resigning from the opposition to seek soft landing if not seek clean bill of health.

These claims remain at the corridors of speculation, only Okupe’s next move will either justifies the speculation or dust it.