The National Secretary of the Labour Party, Umar Farouk, threw his support behind the beleaguered Director General of the Obi-Datti Presidential Campaign Council, Doyin Okupe, on Friday, calling his dismissal ‘null and void.’
The leadership of the Ogun State Chapter of the LP expelled Okupe and ten other party members for claimed “non-financial membership status, political rascality, and misappropriation of funds.” Their departure was met with accusations and counter-accusations from the party’s hierarchy, with the National Chairman of the party, Julius Abure, labeling the dismissal of Obi’s DG as “false news.” Abure argued that state executives lacked the legal authority to remove him.
Friday, upon leaving an emergency meeting of the National Working Committee, Farouk informed reporters that Okupe’s expulsion had been reversed. While promising that a committee has been established to investigate and bring to justice the respective exco members responsible for his expulsion, the LP national secretary indicated that the former special assistant to Dr. Goodluck Jonathan is still a member of the party and the PCC.
He stated, “The Ogun state chapter has violated its constitutional jurisdiction.” According to the party’s Constitution, the party has an internal conflict resolution procedure for handling cases against party members. “Therefore, Dr. Doyin Okupe’s suspension from the party by the Ogun state chapter is void. He is still a Labour Party member and the director general of the PCC.