By Matthew Tabe
The Ogun State Executive Council of the Labour Party on Thursday expelled the Director-General of Peter Obi- Datti Presidential Campaign Council, Dr Doyin Okupe, and 11 others for refusing to pay their membership dues.
Quest Times understands that the SEC, which made the pronouncement after a meeting in Abeokuta, said the action was a violation of the party’s constitution.
It was further gathered that those that were expelled alongside Okupe included Abayomi Collins, Hon. Abel Olaleye, Jagun Lookman, Olori Oluwabukola Soyoye, Mr. Gbadebo Fesomade, (former State Treasurer) and Mr. Abdulmalik Olaleye (former State Youth Leader).
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Others are Mr. Jide Amusan(former State Publicity Secretary) Mr. Adeshina Wasiu Shojobi (former Asst State Youth Leader), Miss Deborah Adewale, (former Senatorial).
Addressing journalists in Abeokuta, the State Chairman; Michael Ashade and Feyisola Michael; State Secretary, alleged that Okupe and others had refused to pay their membership dues, despite repeated reminders that they should validate their membership by updating their financial status.
Ashade asked Okupe to provide evidence of any payment in respect of membership dues prior to December 1, 2022, into any bank account of the LP.
He asked the National Chairman of the party, Barr. Julius Abure and the party Presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, to obey the party’s Constitution by relieving Okupe of his position as DG of PCC immediately and appoint another DG for the body, who should come from the North to reflect federal characters and political balance.
Ashade hinged the action on article 9(3)xi of dues of up to six months shall lead to forfeiture of membership.
“Despite repeated demands from various meetings I had with Dr. Doyin Okupe in respect of his mandatory constitutional requirements to fulfill membership status, he has failed woefully in this regard with some others to flagrantly disobey the Constitution of Labour party.
“In line with article 19(3) of the Labour Party constitutional provision, we declare that Dr. Doyin Okupe, having failed in the payment of his membership dues for the last six months of joining the party, has forfeited his membership of the party and no longer fit and competent to continue to act as the DG of the Presidential Campaign Council (PCC).
“We hereby notify our National Chairman, Bar Julius Abure and Labour Party Presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, that it’s expedient to obey the Constitution of the party by immediately appointing another DG for the PCC and that should come from the North to reflect Federal Characters and political balance.”
Ashade warned that any further act of disobedience by any of the affected former party members would be resisted through lawful means of enforcement in the Court of competent jurisdiction, stressing that the SEC of the party was committed to party supremacy as enshrined in the Labour Party constitution.
He further warned that legal action would be taken against the National Chairman, Barr. Abure and the presidential candidate, Peter Obi, if they failed or foot drag to relieve Doyin Okupe of his position in the party’s campaign council.
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To fill the positions of those whose membership of LP was terminated, the State Executive Council approved their replacement in an acting capacity.
The council, therefore, appointed Mr. Theo Igbozuruike as Acting Publicity Secretary, Mrs. Oladimeji Elizabeth Temidayo, Ag.State Women Leader, Babaseun Ogunyemi, Ag.Dep. State Chairman II, Mr. Adebiyi Adekunle, Ag.State Youth Leader and Mr. Olaniyi Shobajo, Acting State Treasurer.
