A former Director-General of Peter Obi Presidential Campaign Organisation and erswhile Labour Party’s (LP) chieftain, Dr Doyin Okupe, has said the party’s inability to build an enduring structure after the 2023 elections is responsible for the gale of defections from the party.
Okupe made the statement in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria(NAN)In Lagos on Sunday.
NAN reports that six LP lawmakers recently dumped the party on the floor of the House of Representatives for the ruling All Progressives Congress(APC)
The defected lawmakers include Rep.Tochukwu Chinedu Okere (Imo), Rep. Donatus Matthew (Kaduna), Rep. Akiba Bassey (Cross River) and Rep.Esosa Iyawe (Edo).
Also, a great number of ordinary members of LP have also dumped the party for the APC and PDP lately.
Doyin Okupe
Okupe noted that the mass defections from LP were expected as elected members would not stay in a party where the future is not sure.
The former LP chieftain said those leaving the party knew they had to move for political relevance and survival .
“The Labour Party was one of those common parties that existed mainly for those who could not get tickets in the major parties to come and find expression.
“That is how we also got there. Our presence in the Labour Party then boosted the fortune of Labour Party.
“But what was important and which was essentially neglected by the leadership of the Labour Party and the presidential candidate was political structure
” So those who are in the National Assembly (under LP platform) know that they are on their last card.
“Even if they cannot return, they need to use their opportunity right now to align with one or two of the major parties and become somebody.
“So, that is why you are seeing all this gale of deflections, and it’s not going to stop,” he said.
Okupe, a former presidential spokesman, said that lawmakers elected under the platform of the Labour Party knew that the situation that brought them would be different in 2027 .
He added: “Those who came on the of the popularity of the Obedient Movement know, for a fact ,that they would not return because the circumstances are different.
“The situation has become different. What happened in the South West is not going to happen in 2027. I can assure you. It’s not going to happen.
“People want political success tomorrow but LP is not ready to build. They are not ready to build and are not ready to invest in structures,so people will leave” he said
According to him, it is also very possible that Obi, the 2023 LP’s presidential candidate, dumps the party, considering his meetings with some opposition leaders recently.
“Obi was with Atiku Abubakar in Adamawa, recently. So, what does that tell you? That tells you that all options are open. The followers in the Labour Party are not blind,” he said. (NAN)
The Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Kogi State has condemned the ban on political rallies and convoys imposed by the state government.
State Chairman of SDP, Mr Ahmed Attah, issued the condemnation in a statement signed by the SDP Press Secretary, Isaiah Ijele, on Tuesday in Lokoja.
The party described the ban as an attack on democratic principles and a blatant attempt to silence opposition voices.
Attah urged Gov. Ahmed Ododo to learn from the past and avoid repeating old, harmful practices that have hindered the state’s progress.
“The party views this action as an attempt to suppress the freedom of association and movement enshrined in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he said.
Attah insisted that the state is not at war and urged the government to focus on development instead of engaging in political manoeuver.
He warned that Kogi must not return to the dark days of repression, particularly against the opposition. (NAN)
The Presidential Candidate of the defunct National Conscience Party (NCP) in the 2015 general election, Chief Martin Onovo, has said the only unity and emergence of a strong candidate could secure victory for the coalition of opposition leaders in 2027.
Onovo, an activist and Head of Policy Positions, Movement for Fundamental Change (MFC), said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Lagos.
He was reacting to the recent announcement of an opposition coalition to challenge the All progressives Congress (APC) in the next presidential election.
Presidential Candidate of the defunct National Conscience Party (NCP) in the 2015 general election, Chief Martin Onovo,
“The coalition of opposition leaders needs a candidate that is vigorous; a strong candidate to brighten its chances in 2027. The coalition needs somebody with a clear agenda and a clear vision.
“The opposition needs a candidate with a strong background of integrity. Nobody is perfect, but you need a strong background of integrity.
“The opposition needs somebody who is morally and mentally competent, and physically fit. The opposition does not need the former Vice President Atiku Abubakar or any old person if it wants to win.
“The opposition doesn’t need any old person now. It is time to use the energy of the young.
“They must present a strong candidate, who is strong morally, mentally, and physically, with a clear patriotic agenda to move the country forward, ” Onovo said.
He added that the coalition had a lot that could work to its advantage in 2027 and urged members to work with unity of purpose to achieve convincing victory.
Also speaking on chances of the ruling party in 2027, the politician said APC could remain in power if the challenges arising from subsidy removal and other economic issues were addressed by the present administration.
He also said President Bola Tinubu still had the opportunity to address the security challenges in the country to win in 2027 ,and remain in power ,if interested
Onovo, who noted that he was not part of the organisers of the mega coalition, said that he had always been part of the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) since 2019 elections.
He called on all Nigerians to unite for the development of the country, ensuring leadership that would fulfill the country’s aspirations.
NAN recalls that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, had recently announced the formation of a coalition, aimed at unseating Tinubu in 2027.
Atiku made the declaration during a press conference in Abuja, attended by several opposition politicians, including former APC members.
Among those present at the even were the 2023 Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, represented by Dr Yunusa Tanko; former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal and a former governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai. (NAN)
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Cross River on Monday granted Gov. Bassey Otu and his deputy, Mr Peter Odey, an automatic ticket for the 2027 general election.
Speaking at the APC Secretariat in Calabar, the party’s Chairman, Mr Alphonsus Eba, urged other party members aspiring for political positions to begin their consultations.
Eba clarified that apart from the governor and his deputy, no other individual had been given an automatic ticket by the party.
He encouraged other aspirants to return to their constituents and seek their support ahead of the elections.
“The State Working Committee and the State Executive Committee of APC met today and resolved that Governor Otu will be the party’s sole candidate in 2027,” he said.
He explained that the decision was based on the principle of continuity, stating, “Nobody changes a winning team. The governor and his deputy will fly the party’s flag in 2027.”
He added that even if Otu was reluctant to run, the party would still present only one ticket with his name, as was done in 2022.
“We appeal to him to listen to the desires of party members and accept the nomination,” Eba stated.
He also praised the deputy governor, currently acting as governor, for supporting President Bola Tinubu’s actions in Rivers.
Eba noted that some individuals had misrepresented the state’s position. He commended the acting governor for clarifying that South-South governors had not consulted him before opposing Tinubu’s decision.
He applauded the President for restoring peace in Rivers, preventing a political crisis. (NAN)
