Former Director-General of the Labour Party (LP) presidential campaign, Doyin Okupe, has shed light on the party’s role as a special purpose vehicle (SPV) in the 2023 presidential election.

 In a  Television vision  on Tuesday, Okupe revealed that both himself and LP presidential candidate, Peter Obi, did not fully align with the ideologies of the party.

Okupe emphasized that the LP was strategically chosen as a platform due to its availability rather than ideological alignment.

 “The LP for us – for Peter Obi and I – and those in the leadership of the movement… the party was a special purpose vehicle (SPV),” he stated.

He clarified that neither he nor Obi identified as “labour persons,” with both being businessmen with leanings towards liberal democracy and free enterprise. 

Okupe’s resignation from the LP in January, citing ideological differences, underscores the disconnect between the party’s ideologies and the objectives of the campaign.

Reflecting on the election outcome, Okupe expressed hopes of bridging ideological gaps with the labour sector had they emerged victorious. 

However, he highlighted that Obi’s candidacy was not inherently aligned with labour principles. “Peter Obi is not a labour person. 

He is not a leftist person, he is a trader, he is a businessman just like me,” Okupe affirmed.

Furthermore, Okupe criticised the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), his former party, for nominating a northerner as its candidate for the 2023 election, deeming it “unreasonable.” 

This critique reflects ongoing discussions within Nigeria’s political landscape regarding regional balance and representation.

Do you want to share a story with us? Do you want to advertise with us? Do you need publicity for a product, service, or event? Contact us on WhatsApp +2348183319097 Email: platformtimes@gmail.com

Former Speaker of House of Representatives and a  former gubernatorial candidate  of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Imo State, Emeka Ihedioha has tendered his resignation letter  from the party. 

This decision, announced on April 23, has sent ripples through Nigeria’s political landscape, casting a shadow over the party’s ability to serve as an effective opposition force.

Ihedioha’s departure from the PDP was conveyed through a formal letter addressed to the PDP chairman of Mbutu ward in Aboh Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo State, as well as the national chairman.

 In his letter, Ihedioha lamented the party’s failure to fulfil its role as a credible opposition to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

This move comes as a surprise to many, given Ihedioha’s longstanding association with the PDP and his previous roles within the party. 

PLATFORM TIMES reports that his resignation underscores growing disillusionment among party members and supporters who have become increasingly critical of the PDP’s effectiveness in holding the government accountable.

The failure of the PDP to provide a robust opposition to the APC, which has maintained a stronghold on power, has been a point of contention within the party. 

The internal strife and leadership crises that have plagued the PDP in recent years have further exacerbated its inability to present a united front against the ruling party. 

Ihedioha’s departure, therefore, not only reflects his individual grievances but also highlights broader issues within the party’s structure and strategy.

As speculation mounts regarding Ihedioha’s next political moves, his decision to part ways with the PDP raises questions about the future direction of Nigerian politics.

PLATFORM TIMES gathered that as a respected figure within the political sphere, Ihedioha’s  actions are likely to influence the decisions of others within the opposition camp.

In the aftermath of Ihedioha’s resignation, the PDP faces a daunting task of rebuilding its image and reclaiming its status as a credible opposition force. 

With crucial elections looming on the horizon, including the 2027 presidential race, the party must engage in introspection and strategic planning to remain relevant in Nigeria’s dynamic political landscape.

Do you want to share a story with us? Do you want to advertise with us? Do you need publicity for a product, service, or event? Contact us on WhatsApp +2348183319097 Email: platformtimes@gmail.com

Politics of Tuesday, 23 April 2024

Source: www.legit.ng

2024-04-23

• Watch Comedy Video of Obi’s schools’ receipts

By Henry Emma Udoji

Anambra State has never lacked schools, so what’s the need for building more?

The numerous schools in Anambra State needed to be renovated, revamped, equipped, and overhauled and these were what HE Peter Obi did in the Education sector in Anambra State during his tenure. The people of Anambra State never complained about the shortage of schools nor did they cry out for not having space in the schools for their kids.

Anambra State has grown past the stage in which Reno Omokri is expecting. Anambra State has schools and what is needed is maintenance, Peter Obi prioritized education during his tenure as the Governor of the state.

All the missionary secondary and primary schools were returned to the management of the churches and he still funds the maintenance of these schools handed over to the churches and other schools with development funding assistance of over 6 Billion, this has shown how willing he is to see Education flourish in the State.

When people lack information we teach them what they don’t know. Peter Obi carried out the construction of over 1,400 classroom blocks for primary school Alone, he rehabilitated over 500 primary school classroom blocks, provision of over 600 school buses to secondary schools, rehabilitation of over 200 Science Labs, provision of 400 fully equipped computer rooms with 10,000 computers, A complete turnaround with Anambra State ranking in the “Top 3” in Secondary school WAEC and NECO results from it’s previous “Bottom 5” position in some years back.

His administration invested over #10 Billion in tertiary institutions during its Tenure which includes All the major improvements in Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU) and Many other related financial assistance and structures in the education sector. This improvement in the existing schools is a landmark achievement in the Education sector.

Reno Omokri doesn’t have an idea about governing a State, this is one of the numerous areas in Governance he lacks knowledge About, what’s the essence of building More schools where the existing ones need to be maintained, the government of HE Peter Obi is conservative, his administration doesn’t spend for the sake of spending, he prioritizes on the need of the people.

Other areas in the State require government attention, so why build more schools where we already have existing ones?

The current government at the center is budgeting $13 billion for a road project in Lagos-Calabar which looks like a misappropriation of priority.

Note: It’s only the gullible Nigerians who will be swayed by such baseless opinions coming from a displaced political jobber Reno Omokri.

 Henry EU

Watch the video below.

• Former director-general of the Labour Party (LP) presidential campaign, Doyin Okupe, said he and the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Gregory Obi, never believed in the ideologies of the opposition platform
• Legit.ng recalls that in January 2024, Okupe resigned his membership of LP, citing ideological differences, but Obi remains a member of the party
• Okupe, a former presidential aide, clarified that his membership in the LP expired after their electoral defeat in the presidential election conducted in February 2023

Legit.ng journalist Ridwan Adeola Yusuf has over 9 years of experience covering politics and elections in Nigeria.

FCT, Abuja – Doyin Okupe, former director-general (DG) of the Labour Party (LP) presidential campaign in 2023, has said the party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, never believed in the ideologies of the party.

Read also

Breaking: Former Imo governor, Emeka Ihedioha resigns from PDP, gives reason

According to Okupe, the LP was just a special purpose vehicle (SPV) for the 2023 presidential election.

Okupe spoke while featuring on Arise Television’s ‘The Morning Show’ on Tuesday, April 23.

He said:

“The LP for us — for Peter Obi and I — and those in the leadership of the movement… The party was a special purpose vehicle (SPV).

“I have never been a labour person, I have never operated on the left before but we needed a platform and this was the only platform readily available to us.

“Peter Obi is not a labour person. He is not a leftist person, he is a trader, he is a businessman just like me.”

Read more on Doyin Okupe

Read also

BREAKING: Shaibu excluded as INEC publishes final list of candidates for Edo 2024 gov’ship election

Okupe resigns from Labour Party

In January, Legit.ng reported that Okupe resigned his membership in the LP.

Okupe explained that his lifelong alignment with right-wing and liberal democratic principles clashed with Labour’s left-of-centre ideology, making his continued membership difficult.

The former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) member noted that they contested the election on the P platform and lost.

Source: Legit.ng

Doyin Okupe, the former director-general of the Labour Party (LP) presidential campaign in the 2023 general election has described the party as nothing more than a “Special Purpose Vehicle” (SPV) specifically created for the presidential election.

This suggests that the LP was primarily focused on the presidential campaign rather than being a long-standing political organization with a broader agenda.

Recall that in January, Okupe resigned his membership of LP, citing ideological differences.

Speaking on Arise Television on Tuesday, April 23, Okupe said he and Peter Obi, LP presidential candidate in last year’s election, do not necessarily subscribe to the ideologies of the party

The former presidential aide said his membership of the party ended the moment Obi lost the election.

He said: “The LP for us — for Peter Obi and I — and those in the leadership of the movement, the party was a special purpose vehicle (SPV).

“I have never been a labour person, I have never operated on the left before but we needed a platform and this was the only platform readily available to us.

“We thought that if we won the election… there are no fast and hard rules about ideologies. You can always find a shade between the left and the right. You can always move to the centre.

“We were hoping and praying that if we won we would find a way to come to some consensus with the labour.

“Peter Obi is not a labour person. He is not a leftist person, he is a trader, he is a businessman just like me. I am a liberal democrat, I believe in liberal democracy, and I believe in free enterprise.

“I am not a social worker. As far as I’m concerned, my membership of labour expired the moment we lost that election.

“It was “unreasonable” for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to present a northerner as its candidate in the buildup to the 2023 election.”

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has reportedly arrested Hadi Sirika, former Minister of Aviation, over an ongoing N8bn money laundering probe.

The indicted former Minister of Aviation arrived at the Federal Capital Territory Command of the EFCC at about 1:00 pm on Tuesday.

According to a Punch report, the embattled former minister’s arrival at the anti-graft agency’s Abuja office.

Sirika, it was gathered, is currently meeting with EFCC investigators to answer questions on alleged fraudulent contracts awarded by him to a company known as Engirios Nigeria Limited, owned by his younger sibling, Abubakar Sirika.

More subsequently…