Okupe remains Obi's campaign DG – LP secretary

Labour Party National Secretary Umar Farouk on Friday pledged his support to embattled Obi-Datti Presidential Campaign Council Chief Executive Doyin Okupe, describing his dismissal as “null and void.”

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Okupe and 10 party members were dismissed from their positions by the leadership of the Ogun State branch of the LP for "non-financial membership, political roguery and embezzlement".

Members involved were State II East Vice President Jagun Lookman; Head of Stateswomen, Oluwabukola Soyoye; former State Treasurer, Gbadebo Fesomade; the Secretary of State for Publicity, Jide Amusan; state youth leader, Abdulmalik Olaleye; Adeshina Shojobi, Deputy State Youth Officer; Ogun East Senatorial Women Leader Deborah Adewale; Deputy Secretary of State, Olatunde Abolade; Abel Olaleye; and Abayomi Collins.

Their removal was vexed with accusations and counter-accusations by the party hierarchy, while the party's national chairman, Julius Abure, called the dismissal of Obi's CEO "fake news".

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Abure claimed that the leaders of the state had no standing to impeach him.

But the party's national publicity secretary, Abayomi Arabambi, was indifferent, daring those unhappy with Okupe's sacking to seek redress in court.

Returning from an emergency meeting of the National Working Committee on Friday, Farouk told reporters that Okupe's dismissal had been overturned.

While assuring that a committee has been set up to investigate and bring in the respective members of the exco behind his expulsion, the LP national secretary said the former special assistant to Dr Goodluck Jonathan remains a card-carrying member of the party and the CCP.

He said, "The Ogun State Chapter has acted outside of its constitutional jurisdiction. The party has an internal dispute resolution mechanism to deal with cases against party members, such as the provides for the Party 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 Labor Party and the DG of the CCP.< /p>

“The Party is firmly united behind its leaders and the CCP leadership. We are also not unaware of the attempts by our opposition in some political parties to infiltrate the party structure at all levels as it has become clear that the chances of victory for the Labor Party candidates in the forthcoming general election are increasing every day. .

“The party leadership will do everything in their power to ensure that our cohesion is not tempered and distracted by the antics of the opposition while our candidates are already on their way to victory."

Farouk also deplored the recent attacks on our party supporters, members and candidates in some states, particularly in Edo, Ebonyi and Kaduna states, where one of his local leaders was horribly murdered.

"We call on the oppositions, especially the state governors to restrain their thugs as well as the security agencies to be more vigilant and fulfill their constitutional responsibility to protect the life and property of the citizens," said he said.

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