Uduegbunam Chukwujama
Sources within the highest echelon of the Labour Party and the Obi-Datti Campaign, on Wednesday night, revealed that former President Olusegun Obasanjo was, indeed, instrumental to the appointment of the embattled former Director General of the Peter Obi presidential Campaign Council, Dr Doyin Okupe.
Okupe, a very strong influence in the Labour Party campaign, threw in the towel after he was convicted of complicity in money laundering charges involving former National Security Adviser (NSA) Sambo Dasuki, a criminal proceeding instituted by the Muhammadu Buhari administration since 2015.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelSome leaders of the party disclosed that it was based on the strong recommendation of the former President that Okupe was picked by Obi, insisting that the integrity of the embattled former DG remains intact, his conviction notwithstanding. Okupe has said he would continue to support the Presidential campaign from the sidelines.
Early this week in his resignation letter to Mr Obi , Okupe said he had put in a lot in the Labour Party campaign and, therefore, would not allow his personal distractions to undermine the anticipated success of the political party in the February 25, 2023 presidential election.
READ ALSO: Why I Resigned As LP Campaign DG – Okupe
Obi has already accepted his resignation, even as Prime Business Africa confirmed on Wednesday night that LP and its candidate are seriously shopping for his replacement. “Afenifere will play a major role in finding a new DG for the Peter Obi Campaign ,” an influential leader of the party told Prime Business Africa on telephone.
According to the source, Okupe’s replacement must, in he spirit of fair play, come from the Southwest, and I can assure you that Afenifere will play and is already playing a major role in finding this replacement.
“In fact, this time around, there is every likelihood that we would go for a female,” he said.
READ ALSO: Obi-Datti Campaign Shops For Female DG, Adesanya’s Daughter, Modupe Adelaja, May Replace Okupe
The source further hinted that major stakeholders in Afenifere, the Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, who are supportive of the Labour Party candidate have, in the last two days, been working round the clock to ensure that the new Director General of the party’s Presidential Campaign is a strong female personality from the Southwest.
