8th January, 2024
Doyin Okupe, former presidential aide and Director General of Labour Party in the 2023 election has quit the party, citing ideological differences.
Okupe, who introduced Peter Obi to the Labour Party ahead of the 2023 presidential election anchored his decision to abandon the party to the shift in its ideology to the left-of-center, contrary to his “lifelong alignment with right-wing and liberal democratic principles.”
Okupe noted that he has left the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP alongside Obi to Labour Party in search of a special purpose vehicle to contest the election.
He also stood as the Vice Presidential candidate of Peter Obi before the emergence of Yusuf Datti.
In his resignation letter made available to journalists on Monday, Okupe said: “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.
“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 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 Organization.
“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.”