The Director-General of Peter Obi Campaign Organisation and a former presidential aide, Doyin Okupe, said he has been tapped as the Vice-Presidential candidate of the Labour Party.
This disclosure was made by Okupe while speaking with Politics Today, a Channels TV political programme, on Friday.
Okupe disclosed that his name has been submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
“I’m vice presidential candidate of the Labour Party, fact!.
“You know that this exercise close this evening 6pm and this is just past seven, the Labour Party will issue a statement, you yourself have been able to confirm that my name has been submitted to INEC and so, that is the reality of the situation as of today,” he said.
Speaking further, Okupe clarified that while he has been chosen as the Vice-Presidential candidate, there are possibilities of a change as the party is still holding its widespread consultations across the country.
Okupe explained that the Labour Party is working on a merger with other political parties, adding that things might change as time goes on.
He affirmed that the Labour Party is aiming to merge with the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), alongside other parties to work together to unseat the two leading parties in the country, the ruling All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in the forthcoming general election.
He continued, “We’re talking to NNPP, we are taking to SDP, we are taking to every possible region political outfit outside APC and PDP.
“The choosing of the vice presidential candidate is a process, it is an electoral process. And it does not stop until the process and the schedule ends. INEC allows you to present your candidates and if you want to substitute, you make substitute, if necessary, but it is not necessary. The present situation is that we believe that this Labour party government that is coming, is essentially going to be about young Nigerians. Those of us who have been part and parcel of the fight must be prepared to pay the sacrifice, even personal sacrifice, and allow a situation whereby we can lift up our youths to the position of power and authority.”
