The Ogun State chapter of the Labour Party has expelled the Director General of the national presidential campaign council (PCC), Doyin Okupe. 

This was announced by the state chairman of the party, Michael Asade, in a briefing which was held after the state leadership of the party had a meeting in Abeokuta, Ogun State’s capital, on Thursday. 

Citing the basis for the expulsion, Mr Asade disclosed that Mr Okupe’s membership of the party had become invalid for non-payment of financial dues in the space of six months. 

He declared that Mr Okupe had forfeited his membership and was no longer qualified to lead the PCC. 

“Therefore, in line with article 19(3) of the Labour Party constitutional provision, we declare that Dr Doyin Okupe, having failed in the payment of his membership dues for the last six months of joining the Party, has forfeited his membership of the Party and no longer fit and competent to continue to act as the DG of the Presidential Campaign Council,” Mr Asade said. 

The chairman further said that Mr Okupe’s continuous leadership of the PCC violates the party’s principle of reflecting federal character and urged the party’s national chairman, Julius Abure, to appoint a replacement. 

“We hereby notify our National Chairman Bar Julius ABURE and Labour Party Presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi, that its expedient to obey the constitution of Labour party by immediately appointing another DG for the PCC, and that should come from the North to reflect federal characters and political balance,” he added. 

The party had accused Mr Okupe of diverting campaign funds and single-handedly appointing his associates as critical members of the party’s campaign. 

He was also accused of all allowing members of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to use the party as tools for the reigition of their mostly dead political careers. 

“Okupe has polarised the party in Ogun State with his crops of PDP dissidents and political liabilities who are only using Labour Party to revive their not only irredeemable dead political and financial lives but has successfully stolen all that is available in LP,” Mr Asade said.