The Labour Party has described the exit of Doyin Okupe, a former Director-General of the Peter Obi-Datti Presidential Campaign Organisation, from the party as a political harlot and opportunist.
The LP described Okupe’s exit as not “surprising,” saying, “In a true character of traditional politicians who moves from place to another, he was in PDP, from PDP to APC and then Labour Party and we won’t be surprised if he goes back to his vomit and embrace either APC or PDP all over again. It is all about where food is ready.”
Okupe on Monday shared his resignation letter with newsmen in Abuja, adding that ideological differences in the post-2023 elections were the basis for his departure from the party.
The former DG 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 N700 million.
He was accused of illegally receiving money from 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 N13 million, which he took and avoided time in prison.
Obiora Ifoh, the National Publicity Secretary of the party in a statement on Tuesday said ordinarily the leadership of the party “wouldn’t have responded but because of media attraction it has been generating since yesterday”.
It said, “Needless to say, that after the general election, a few members of the party had left while many others have also joined the party. It is within the rights of any Nigerian to associate with any political parties of their choice.
“In the letter said to have been addressed to our National Chairman, Barrister Julius Abure, which is yet to be received, Okupe cited ideological conflict as the reason he left PDP, he also addressed Labour Party pejoratively as a “Special Purpose Vehicle”.
“This response wouldn’t have been necessary if Okupe had left quietly or perhaps claimed ‘personal reasons’ for his actions but by way of him demeaning a party believed to have won the majority of votes by Nigerians but was denied victory by the Nigerian system was clearly a mischief carried too far.
“Okupe is aware that the Labour Party is ideologically rooted in the left of the center, and he admitted that he has been a rightist and a Liberal Democrat all his entire life, one wonders what he was looking for in a party that is diametrically opposed to his ideological leaning. What kind of political harlotry was he exhibiting by finding no qualms in jumping from one party to another with such ease.
“His exit from Labour Party is not in any way surprising to us.”
The Labour Party described itself as an ideological party that has a “clear-cut ideology which supports equal opportunity and social justice”.
It continued by saying the party is “specifically not a place for people like Doyin Okupe”.
It said, “Our system in Labour Party does not support political opportunists. The system will naturally expose such political characters and eject them. I ask again, had Labour Party declared winner of the presidential election, will Okupe remain with the party or jump ship in adherence to his ideological leaning.
“We must recall that Okupe was forced to abdicate office halfway into the campaign because of the baggage’s he came with from the other party where he served. The courts whipped him into early political menopause, so he really didn’t contribute much into the Labour Party’s success in the 2023 electoral voyage, however we are glad he acknowledged that we offered him shelter.
“Finally, the leadership of the Labour Party wishes him well in his future political adventure. We will however remain positive that a new Nigeria is still possible.”
