Ogun LP sacks DG of Peter Obi Presidential Campaign Council, Doyin Okupe, 11 others

On Thursday, the crisis rocking the Ogun State chapter of the Labour Party (LP) took a troubling turn when the State Executive Council (SEC) expelled the Director-General of Peter Obi – Datti Presidential Campaign Council, Dr. Doyin Okupe, and eleven others for violating the party’s constitution.

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After their meeting in Abeokuta, the state capital, Ogun LP chairman and secretary Michael Ashade and Feyisola Michael; State respectively alleged that Okupe and others had refused to pay their membership dues over the past six months, despite repeated reminders that they should validate their membership by updating their financial status.

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The National Publicity Secretary, Dr. Abayomi Arabambi, and other LP members attended the press briefing.

Ashade accused Okupe of polarising the party in Ogun State through his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) “dissidents who are only using the LP to revive their political and financial lifelines.”

He challenged Okupe to provide evidence of any payment of membership dues into any bank account of the LP before December 1, 2022.

To implement the SEC’s decision, he requested that the national chairman, Barr. Julius Abure, and the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, comply with the party’s constitution by immediately relieving Okupe of his position as D-G of PCC and appointing a new DG from the North to reflect federal characters and political balance.

Article 9(3)xi of the party’s constitution stipulates that “only fully registered and financially up-to-date members of the Party shall have the right to compete for office in the Ward Executive, Local Government Area Executive, State Executive Councils, and the National Working Committee of the Party, or to be a delegate to the Congresses and the National Convention.”

He stated, “Article 9(3)iii of our Party’s Constitution states, ‘Only members who pay their monthly membership dues at the prescribed rates shall be considered to be genuine Party members. Dues arrears of up to six months will result in membership termination.’

“Despite repeated demands from multiple meetings I had with Dr. Doyin Okupe regarding his mandatory constitutional requirements to fulfill membership status, he has dismally failed in this regard, along with others, to flagrantly disobey the Labour party constitution.

“… Following article 19(3) of the Labour Party’s constitution, we hereby declare that Dr. Doyin Okupe has forfeited his membership in the Party and is no longer fit and competent to continue to serve as the Director General of the Presidential Campaign Council (PCC).

“We hereby notify our National Chairman, Bar Julius Abure, and Labour Party Presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, that it is expedient to immediately appoint another DG for the PCC from the North to reflect Federal Characters and political balance,” the letter reads.

Ashade named Abayomi Collins, Hon. Abel Olaleye, Jagun Lookman, Olori Oluwabukola Soyoye, Mr. Gbadebo Fesomade, (former State Treasurer), and Mr. Abdulmalik Olaleye as those stripped of their membership (former State Youth Leader).

Others include Mr. Jide Amusan (former State Publicity Secretary), Mr. Adeshina Wasiu Shojobi (former Assistant State Youth Leader), Miss Deborah Adewale (former Senatorial Women Leader for Ogun East), and Mr. Olatunde Abolade (former Asst State Secretary).