In a recent viral video, Dr. Doyin Okupe, the Director-General of the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential campaign, accused the party’s candidate, Peter Obi, of betraying the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) candidate, Atiku Abubakar, to pursue his presidential ambitions. Okupe asserted that Obi’s decision to run for president led him to oppose Atiku, who had introduced Obi to national politics.
Okupe refuted claims that he had betrayed Obi, stating his withdrawal of support stemmed from a personal decision to no longer work with the Labour Party candidate. He emphasized his extensive political experience, noting his involvement in politics since 1978, and insisted his political future was not tied to Obi’s ambitions.
“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,” Okupe remarked, questioning the fairness of accusations against him when Obi had similarly opposed Atiku.
Okupe also revealed that his initial support for Obi was influenced by Pa Ayo Adebanjo, a leader of the pan-Yoruba group Afenifere. Adebanjo had urged support for a Southern presidential candidate to succeed former President Muhammadu Buhari, with a specific focus on the South-East region for the sake of fairness.
In his explanation, Okupe recounted a conversation with Adebanjo, where they agreed that the South-East, which had not yet produced a Nigerian president, should be prioritized. This collective decision led to their endorsement of Obi.
