Okupe Resigns from LP, Says He’s Rightist, Liberal Democrat

•We wish you well, party leadership reacts

Chuks Okocha in Abuja

Former Director-General of the Labour Party Presidential Campaign Organisation, Doyin Okupe, has resigned his membership of the party, saying he was a rightist and liberal democrat.

But the party leadership, while reacting and wishing him well, said it was okay for the former presidential spokesperson not to be where his ideology would be confused.

Okupe’s letter dated January 8, 2023, was directed to the attention of the national chairman, Julius Abure.

Giving reasons for his resignation, he said he could not continue with the Labour Party because the party was ideologically a leftist party.

“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.

“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.

“I wish to thank you in particular and other members of the leadership of the party for the cordiality and respect accorded to me as the Director General of the Obi-Datti Presidential Campaign Organisation.

“I wish you and the party success in your future endeavours. Long live the Labour Party. Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Your brother, friend and compatriot, Omooba (Dr Doyin Okupe, Former Director General Obi-Datti Campaign Organization.”

Okupe had in 2023, announced his withdrawal from the campaign of Peter Obi, when he was accused by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for financial crimes

Meanwhile, the National Publicity Secretary of the LP, Mr Obiora Ifoh, who accepted the resignation and wished him well, said Okupe should not be where his ideology would be confused.

“Yes, we received the letter from Dr. Doyin Okupe, tendering his resignation as a member of the Labour Party. We want to say that we wish him very well in his pursuit of his political career. We in the Labour Party cherish the moment we had with him.

“After a short time, December 2022, when he had cause to leave the campaign based on some legal issues, we thank him for the contributions he made when he was the chairman of the DG of the campaign.

“We wish him very well. We want to say that he is saying that he is leaving because he is a Liberal Democrat, while the Labour Party is a Social Democrat.

“It is also a good thing because he is not expected to be in a territory where his ideological bent will be confused or different. He (Doyin Okupe) has always been a PDP man, so the Labour Party expects that he will return to anywhere he wants to be.

“We wish him all the best in his future political pursuit. Though we saw the letter on social media but we have not received it officially,” Ifoh said.