Labour Party in Ogun State expels Peter Obi's campaign spokesman Doyin Okupe

DOYIN Okupe has been expelled from the Nigerian Labour Party despite being the director-general of its Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) and a spokesman for its presidential candidate former Anambra State governor Peter Obi.

In a shock development today, the Labour Party in Ogun State has sacked Dr Okupe, alongside 10 others over their non-financial membership status, high-handedness and financial recklessness. Michael Ashade, the chairman of the party in Ogun State, announced the party’s decision in Abeokuta, saying the offences were a breach of the Labour Party constitution.

Mr Ashade said Dr Okupe has ceased to be a Labour Party member for his failure to meet the mandatory constitutional requirements to fulfil membership status. He added that Dr Okupe had failed to pay his membership dues over the last six months when he joined the party, saying he has therefore forfeited his membership and is no longer fit to act as the director-general of Governor Obi’s campaign council.

He also accused Dr Okupe of mismanaging the funds approved for the Labour Party in Ogun State to mobilise members for the rally held last week at Ibadan, the Oyo State capital. While notifying the Labour Party national chairman, Julius Abure of their decision, the Ogun State chapter  of the party called on Governor Obi to immediately appoint another director-general for the PCC from the north of the country.

Dr Okupe is from Ikenne Local Government Area of Ogun State.  A Nigerian physician and politician who co-founded the Royal Cross Medical Centre, Dr Okupe has served as a special assistant on media and publicity to President Olusegun Obasanjo and senior special assistant on public affairs to President Goodluck Jonathan.