Doyin Okupe Resigns from Labour Party, Citing Ideological Differences as the Driving Force

Doyin Okupe, the former Director-General of the Labour Party Presidential Campaign Organisation, has officially resigned from the party. Okupe’s decision was communicated through a letter made available to newsmen on Monday.

In the resignation letter, Okupe acknowledged the Labour Party’s crucial role in providing a platform for him, Mr. Peter Obi, and others to contest the 2023 Presidential Elections after leaving the PDP. However, he cited ideological differences as the primary reason for his departure, stating that the party’s left-of-center roots conflicted with his rightist and Liberal Democrat principles.

“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 explained in his letter.

The 70-year-old politician expressed gratitude for the support and cordiality received during his tenure as the Director General of the Obi-Datti Presidential Campaign Organization. He wished the Labour Party success in its future endeavors, concluding with well-wishes for the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

This development follows Okupe’s withdrawal from the campaign of Peter Obi in 2023. His resignation comes on the heels of a recent conviction for money laundering by the Federal High Court in Abuja. The court sentenced Okupe to two years in jail but provided an option of a fine, which he opted for, avoiding imprisonment.

Okupe, a seasoned politician and former spokesperson for the National Republican Convention, has served as a presidential spokesperson for both Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, making his departure a notable development within Nigerian political circles.