Dr. Doyin Okupe, former Director-General of the Peter Obi Presidential Campaign and a former leader of the Labour Party (LP), has suggested that Peter Obi might leave the party, citing the LP’s struggles post-2023 elections.
Okupe highlighted that the party’s failure to establish a sustainable political structure was a major reason behind the wave of defections from LP.
In an interview in Lagos, Okupe pointed to the recent exits of several LP lawmakers from the House of Representatives, who joined the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
These include Representatives Tochukwu Chinedu Okere (Imo), Donatus Matthew (Kaduna), Akiba Bassey (Cross River), and Esosa Iyawe (Edo).
Additionally, many ordinary members have also left for the APC and PDP.
Okupe emphasized that the mass defections were predictable, as elected officials would not remain in a party with an uncertain future.
He noted that the Labour Party had historically attracted candidates who couldn’t secure tickets from the major parties, and the party’s prominence grew when high-profile figures joined.
However, the party’s leadership, including Obi, failed to prioritize the development of a lasting political structure.
The former LP leader added that those lawmakers in the National Assembly under the LP banner understood that their political future was bleak unless they aligned with one of the major parties.
With the situation changing in the lead-up to the 2027 elections, Okupe warned that more defections were likely.
He also suggested that Obi, the LP’s 2023 presidential candidate, could consider leaving the party, referencing Obi’s recent meeting with opposition leader, Atiku Abubakar in Adamawa.
Okupe indicated that Obi’s engagements with other political figures signal that all political options are open, and LP followers should be aware of this potential shift.
