A former Director-General of the Peter Obi Presidential Campaign Organisation and erstwhile Labour Party (LP), chieftain, Doyin Okupe, has claimed that the party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, Peter Obi, might dump the party.
According to him, LP’s inability to build an enduring structure after the 2023 elections is responsible for the gale of defections from the party.
Okupe, who made the statement in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, on Sunday, said Peter Obi may soon dump LP.
A total of 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.
Okupe noted that the mass defections from the Labour Party were expected as elected members would not stay in a party where their future is not sure.
The former LP chieftain said those leaving the party already know they have 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 fortunes of the Labour Party.
“But what was important and which was essentially neglected by the leadership of the Labour Party and the presidential candidate was the political structure
”So those who are in the National Assembly, under the 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.
“Those who came on the wings 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 will dump 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.