Doyin Okupe resigns from Labour Party over ideological differences
Former Director General of the Obi-Datti Presidential Campaign Organization, Dr Doyin Okupe, has announced his resignation from the Labour Party.
In a letter addressed to the National Chairman of the Labour Party, Okupe said he decided to leave the party because of the ideological conflict between his liberal views and the party’s left-leaning stance.
Okupe, who was a former member of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), joined the Labour Party along with the presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi, and others, after they left the PDP abruptly in 2022.
He expressed his gratitude to the Labour Party and its leadership for providing them with a “veritable platform” to contest the 2023 presidential election, which they lost to the incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari.
Okupe said in the letter, “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 and for which we were extremely grateful.
“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 Organization.
“I wish you and the party success in your future endeavors.”
