Doyin Okupe’s conviction unsettles Peter Obi’s supporters

The conviction of the Director-General of the Presidential Campaign Council of the Labour Party, Doyin Okupe, for breaching the Money Laundering Act has unsettled the support base of the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi.

Okupe was also a Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Media to former President Goodluck Jonathan.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had arraigned Okupe in 2019 on a 59-count charge bordering on alleged money laundering and diversion of funds to the tune of N702 million.

The Federal High Court in Abuja, jailed Doyin Okupe, for two years with an option of a fine.

Okupe was found guilty on a total of 26 counts – from counts 34 to 59 of the charges.

The judge sentenced Okupe to two years in prison on count 34 with an option of a fine of N500,000.

observed that Okupe’s conviction was greeted with mixed feelings by large swaths of Obi’s supporters across social media.

Before his conviction, Okupe had earlier tweeted: “Lies, fabrications & disinformation are their tools. But in the end, they will fail & be shamed.

It was observed that Okupe’s conviction was greeted with mixed feelings by large swaths of Obi’s supporters across social media.

Before his conviction, Okupe had earlier tweeted: “Lies, fabrications & disinformation are their tools. But in the end, they will fail & be shamed.

“Doyin Okupe has not chopped any shish neither has he shifted base by 1mm!!!

“We are moving forward till God delivers us all from the Perpetual Raiders of this lost but glorious Ark.”

In past weeks, Okupe had come under intense pressure over the alleged mishandling of campaign funds.

Also, the party’s chapter in Ogun State sacked Okupe and others for allegedly not paying membership fees, high-handedness and financial recklessness.

But the spokesman of the Labour Party, Yinusa Tanko, dismissed the expulsion, noting that the development is an internal affair of Ogun LP.

This latest development has set many tongues wagging, especially on social media platforms.

Reacting, @toornie said: “They are trying to weaken Peter Obi by prosecuting Doyin Okupe… Lmao. You cannot stop something whose time has come.”

@Dr_chazduke argued: “The corrupt establishment couldn’t get to Obi & Datti, they are now going after Doyin Okupe from all angles. Obidients ain’t distracted.”

@DuruChibuzorE said: “…Doyin Okupe is guilty, PO should have seen this from the onset. The party will find a way to manage this. Doyin should be prosecuted for his crimes against the nation.”

@OlufemiOlojo said: “Doyin Okupe’s conviction is a confirmation that politics in Nigeria isn’t about service but self-service, irrespective of the political parties. He belongs to PO’s, the “holy, holy” candidate.”