LP reacts to Okupe’s exit, says no room for political opportunists

The leadership of the Labour Party (LP) has reacted to the resignation of Doyin Okupe, a former director-general of the presidential campaign council, from the party.

In a statement on Tuesday, Obiora Ifoh, national publicity secretary of the LP, said there is no room for political opportunists in the party.

Okupe announced his resignation from the opposition party in a letter on Monday.

He said his decision to leave the LP was based on “ideological grounds” and wished the party success in its future endeavours.

In the statement, Ifoh said Okupe’s exit from the party is not surprising, adding that he has a tradition jumping from one party to another.

“The leadership of the Labour Party like most Nigerians read in the social media the purported resignation of the former Director General of our Presidential Campaign Council, Dr. Doyin Okupe from the Labour Party,” Ifoh said.

“His exit from Labour Party is not in any way surprising to us. 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.

“Labour Party is an ideological party, it has a clear-cut ideology which supports equal opportunity and social justice.

“It is specifically not a place for people like Doyin Okupe. 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 baggages 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.”