By Kamsi Anayo
The National Secretary of Labour Party, Umar Farouk, on Friday declared that Doyin Okupe, remains the Director General of Obi-Datti Presidential Campaign Council.
Recall that Okupe and 10 members of the party were removed by the leadership of the Ogun State Chapter of LP over alleged “non-financial membership status, political rascality, and misappropriation of funds.”
The affected members were deputy State Chairman II East, Jagun Lookman; State Women Leader, Oluwabukola Soyoye; ex-state Treasurer, Gbadebo Fesomade; State Publicity Secretary, Jide Amusan; State Youth Leader, Abdulmalik Olaleye; Assistant State Youth Leader, Adeshina Shojobi; Senatorial Women Leader Ogun East, Deborah Adewale; Assistant State Secretary, Olatunde Abolade; Abel Olaleye; and Abayomi Collins.
Their expulsion was greeted with accusation and counter-accusation by the party’s hierarchy, as the National Chairman of the party, Julius Abure, labeled Obi’s DG sacking as ‘fake news’.
Abure claimed that the state executives had no locus standi to remove him.
But the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Abayomi Arabambi, was indifferent, challenging people who were unsatisfied with Okupe’s sack to seek redress in court.
Rising from an emergency meeting of the National Working Committee on Friday, Farouk told newsmen that Okupe’s removal had been nullified.
While assuring that a committee has been set up to investigate and bring the respective exco members behind his expulsion to book, the LP national secretary stated that the former special assistant to Dr Goodluck Jonathan remains a card-carrying member of the party and the PCC.
He stated, “The Ogun state chapter has acted outside its constitutional Jurisdiction. The party has internal conflict resolution mechanism for handling cases against party members as enshrined in the party’s Constitution.
“Therefore, the suspension of Dr. Doyin Okupe from the party by the Ogun state chapter is null and void. He still remains a card-carrying member of the Labour Party and the DG of the PCC.
“The Party is solidly united behind its leads and the leadership of the PCC. We are also not unaware of the attempts by our opposition in some political parties to infiltrate the party’s structure at all levels since it has become obvious the chances of the Labour party’s candidates emerging victorious in the upcoming general elections are becoming brighter every day.
“The party leadership will do everything within its powers. to ensure that our cohesion is not tampered with and will not be distracted by the antics of the opposition as our candidates are already cruising to victory.”
Farouk also criticized the recent attacks on our party supporters, members, and candidates in some states, particularly in Edo, Ebonyi and Kaduna States, where one of its Local Government Women leaders was gruesomely murdered.
“We call on the oppositions, particularly the states governors to restrain their thugs as well as the security agencies to be more vigilant and carry out their constitutional responsibility in protecting lives and properties of the citizens,” he stated.
