Former Director General of the Presidential Campaign Organisation of the Labour Party (LP) ahead of the 2023 elections, Dr Doyin Okupe, has given a detailed explanations as to the reasons why he and presidential candidate of the LP, Mr Peter Obi dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Okupe said it was primarily because they both analysed the political dynamics of the country and resolved that the next President of Nigeria should come from the Southern part of the country, preferably an Igbo man from the South-East.
He said that unfortunately, the PDP was not working in that direction which made it difficult for them to remain.
Okupe told journalists during a chat in Lagos on Monday, September 2, 2024, that his political agreement with Obi, ended after President Bola Tinubu won the election and was further affirmed by the courts up to the Supreme Court.
Okupe said the explanation became necessary given the barrage of attacks was being made to face online from some Obidients, who were criticising him on X for dumping Peter Obi and backing the policies of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
He however said he was too experienced in this game of politics to allow his subsequent political disposition and destiny to be tied to Obi’s ambition.
In the words of Okupe; “Obi and I left the PDP because we both agreed and believed that the next President must be a Southerner, preferably an Igbo man from the South-East. “Unfortunately, we lost that election. Another Southerner, Bola Tinubu won the election. This is God’s will. He gives power to whom He wishes.
“My political commitment and agreement with Obi ended and expired there. I am too experienced in this game of politics for my subsequent political disposition and destiny to be tied to Obi’s ambition. Impossible.
“For me, that cooperation ended with the Supreme Court judgment, right or wrong. There must be order in a society,” he said.
