Politics

Labour Party Former Director General of Campaign Organization, Okupe dumps Party, cites ideological conflict

Published by Fakinlede Tope John on January 9th, 2024.

Labour Party Former Director General of Campaign Organization, Okupe dumps Party, cites ideological conflict

Okupe

Former Director General of Peter Obi-Datti Presidential Campaign Organisation, Doyin Okupe, has dumped the Labour Party.

In his resignation letter, shared with journalists on Monday, Okupe cited ideological differences post-2023 election as the basis for his departure from the party.

Okupe was in December 2023 convicted by the Federal High Court in Abuja after being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for money laundering to the tune of N700m.

He was accused of illicitly receiving money from a former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, from the funds meant for arms procurement.

He was jailed for two years but the judge placed an option of a fine of N13m, which he took and avoided time in prison.

Okupe, a day after his conviction for money laundering, announced his withdrawal from the campaign of Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, but vowed his support and loyalty to the party’s flagbearer.

He later appealed approached Court of Appeal, seeking the reversal of the money laundering conviction

His lawyer , Joe-Kyari Gadzama (SAN), argued that Okupe received the N700m cash not in his individual capacity but for the Office of the Senior Special Adviser to the President Goodluck Jonathan on Public Affairs.

He said he acted under the instructions of the ex-President and hence, he should not be penalised unjustly.

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 executive provided us with this veritable platform with no burdensomeness whatsoever and 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 centre.

“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.”

“I wish you and the party success in your future endeavours. Long live the Labour Party. Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he prayed.