Doyin Okupe Leaves Labour Party
The former Director General of Peter Obi-Datti Presidential Campaign Organisation, Doyin Okupe, has resigned from the Labour Party.
Ideological disagreements following the 2023 election were Okupe’s reason for leaving the party, according to his resignation letter, which was made public to journalists on Monday.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had charged Okupe with N700 million in money laundering, and in December 2023, the Federal High Court in Abuja found him guilty.
Sambo Dasuki, a former national security adviser, was accused of giving him money illegally from funds intended for the purchase of weapons.
The judge allowed him to pay a fine of N13 million instead of serving two years in prison, which he did to avoid going to jail.
A day following his conviction for money laundering, Okupe declared he was leaving the Labour Party’s presidential campaign of Peter Obi, but he still promised to back and be loyal to the party’s leader.
In his resignation, 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 for which we were extremely grateful.”
He added, “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 Organisation.”
