Kenneth Okonkwo, a prominent figure in the Labour Party (LP), has asserted that Doyin Okupe effectively severed ties with the party when he resigned from his position as the Director General of the Peter Obi Presidential Campaign in December 2022. Okonkwo shared his perspective on this matter during an appearance on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily program on Thursday.
According to Okonkwo, Okupe’s departure from the party became evident upon his resignation as the Director General, as there was no notable engagement or interaction with the party thereafter. Okonkwo emphasized that Okupe seemed to have conveyed his decision verbally rather than through any substantial involvement.
Doyin Okupe initially resigned from his role as the campaign director-general for Peter Obi in 2022 following a money laundering conviction. Subsequently, on January 8, 2024, he officially resigned as a member of the Labour Party, citing ideological differences as the reason for his departure.
In his resignation letter, Okupe mentioned that he, along with Peter Obi and others, had left the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) abruptly and sought a Special Purpose Vehicle to contest the 2023 Presidential Elections. Okonkwo, a former spokesman for Obi’s 2023 campaign, questioned Okupe’s reference to “ideological differences,” suggesting that such concerns might not have arisen if the party had won the election.
Expressing skepticism about the existence of clear ideologies within Nigerian political parties, Okonkwo pointed out Okupe’s extensive engagement with various parties in the country. He suggested that, at his age, Okupe should be contemplating spending time with his grandchildren rather than switching political affiliations.
