Doyin Okupe, the former Director-General of the Labour Party’s presidential campaign, has officially severed ties with the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
Okupe’s departure comes amid speculation and allegations of betrayal following his recent comments that appeared to support President Bola Tinubu’s policies.
Okupe, who previously served as a presidential aide to former President Goodluck Jonathan, has been recovering from a life-threatening ailment that necessitated surgery.
He played a crucial role in Obi’s transition from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the Labour Party (LP) in 2022 and led his campaign until he resigned due to an indictment in a financial fraud case.
In a video shared on social media, Okupe addressed the allegations, denying any betrayal of Obi.
He explained that his decision to withdraw support was based on a lack of interest in continuing to work with the former Anambra Governor.
“They said I betrayed Obi. No. How can I betray him? I started politics in 1978. Obi was nowhere else. My life and political destiny cannot be tied to Obi’s ambition. I wish Obi well, but I am done with him. We wanted to achieve something, but we couldn’t achieve it,” Okupe stated.
Okupe further accused Obi of betraying former Vice President Atiku Abubakar by contesting the 2023 general election against him.
He said that Atiku had brought Obi into national politics during the 2019 elections, where Obi was Atiku’s vice-presidential candidate.
“Obi was the vice-presidential candidate of Atiku Abubakar in 2019. He brought him to the national limelight. Because of his own ambition, which was correct and due, Obi left the party and contested against Atiku. If people said I betrayed Obi, what did Obi do to Atiku? It is not fair,” Okupe said.
He clarified that his support for Obi was influenced by Afenifere leader, Pa Ayo Adebanjo, who encouraged him to back presidential aspirants from the South-East region.
Okupe said he had initially set aside his presidential ambitions to support Obi in the interest of regional equity.
“Baba said if we are to rotate it to the south, which section of the south should it go? And I said Baba, in truth and fairness, let us be factual, Southwest has been president, Obasanjo. South-South has been president, Jonathan in recent times. Only South East has not had a shot at it and I found it to be an injustice, but there is nothing a single person can do,” Okupe explained.
