'Did he not know it was leftist before he joined?' - Rufai Oseni tackles Doyin Okupe after he dumped Labour Party

Popular on-air-personality, Rufai Oseni has taken a swipe at Doyin Okupe, a former director general of the Peter Obi 2023 Presidential Campaign Organisation over his resignation from the party.

Okupe on Monday, January 8 announced his resignation from the party, citing ideological differences. The letter was addressed in a letter addressed to the National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP), Julius Abure.

Reacting, Oseni queried Okupe's reasoning stating his reason is "funny". He asked if Okupe didn't know the Labour Party was a leftist before he joined before the 2023 presidential elections.

Speaking on the Morning Show on Tuesday, January 9, he said: "My Doyin Okupe's reason for leaving the Labour Party is funny to me. I felt he should have just said, oh, I am leaving the Labour Party for my reasons and not ideological.

"Didn't he know that the Labour Party was leftist before he got there and that is the hypocrisy of these politicians?

"I have had a chat with Peter Obi about this so many times, you are a free market capitalist and you are in the Labour Party which is tilting towards socialism but he said you know we have divergent views but we can work and rally things out."

Doyin Okupe, a former director general of the Peter Obi 2023 Presidential Campaign Organisation, has resigned from the party, citing ideological differences.

In the letter, dated 8 January, Mr Okupe said the party was only used as a “special purpose vehicle” to actualise the presidential ambition of Mr Obi during the last presidential election.

Mr Okupe, who claimed to be on the centre-right of the ideological spectrum, said the lefty leaning of the LP does not conform with his own ideological stance.

“I have been a rightist and a Liberal Democrat all my entire life. It is therefore this ideological conflict that makes me seek an exit so that I may continue my political activities with liberalism, sincerity and freedom,” he said.

Messrs Okupe and Obi left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the LP shortly before the presidential primaries.

Mr Obi was given the presidential ticket of the LP. Mr Okupe served as the campaign DG and temporary running mate until the selection of the eventual running mate, Ahmed Datti.