The former director-general of the Obi-Datti campaign, Doyin Okupe, has dumped the Labour Party, saying he and the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, only used it as a “special purpose vehicle” to contest the 2023 general election.

Mr Okupe, who was at the forefront of Mr Obi’s presidential campaign, disclosed this in his resignation letter addressed to the LP on Monday.

“I submit herewith my letter of resignation from the Labour Party with effect from today,” Mr Okupe said. “You will recall that our flagbearer, Mr Peter Obi, myself and others left the PDP abruptly and had to look for a special purpose vehicle in which to contest the 2023 Presidential Elections.”

Mr Okupe said he was dumping the party based on ideological differences, describing himself as a rightist and a liberal democrat and the party as leftist.

“We did contest the election on the platform of the Labour Party and lost. This makes it exceedingly difficult for me to continue to stay in the Labour Party, which is ideologically rooted in the left of the centre. 

“I have been a rightist and a liberal democrat all my entire life. It is, therefore, this ideological conflict that makes me seek an exit so that I may continue my political activities with liberalism, sincerity and freedom,” Mr Okupe said. 

However, he appreciated the party and its leadership, stating, “I wish to thank you in particular, and other members of the leadership of the party for the cordiality and respect accorded to me as the director-general of the Obi-Datti Presidential Campaign Organisation.”

His resignation comes as lingering internal leadership tussle rocking the LP has split the party into two factions, almost a year after it lost the 2023 presidential race to Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress.

In 2022, Mr Okupe, 70, announced his withdrawal from Mr Obi’s campaign following his conviction for money laundering. 

His conviction by the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court followed his prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for money laundering to the tune of N700 million.