The Labour Party has submitted the name of former presidential aide Doyin Okupe as the running mate for its presidential candidate Peter Obi.
Okupe made this known on Channels TV programme Politics Today on Friday.
“We naturally will comply with the electoral body, in doing so, chosing the Vice presidential candidate is part of the electoral process and we understand Mr Peter Obi came to the Labour Party on the 29th of May, therefore our reasoning is to bring together the largest political coalition possible because we are facing two political giants, the APC and the PDP and we are serious about upstaging them and we will.
“To do that, you cannot do it alone, we need to put together this coalition and the so-called third force is now alive and for real. It is important for us to ensure that all the stakeholders are carried along from the beginning. We do not want a situation where an action is taken and people think that we have cooked this soup, we have finished it, so what is in for us. Because of this, I Dr Doyin Okupe is standing in as the vice presidential candidate for the Labour Party,” Okupe said.
Okupe’s name might have been submitted by the Labour Party as a placeholder – which can be changed later – to beat the deadline for submission of candidates by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which is today.
When probed further if his name could be substituted later, Okupe said: “Choosing the vice presidential candidate is an electoral process and it does not stop until the process and schedule ends.
“INEC allows you to present a candidate and later on, if you want to substitute, you may do so, if necessary. But if it’s not necessary, you may as well continue.”
Okupe, who like Obi, contested for the presidential ticket under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) before pulling out, is the Director General of Peter Obi Campaign Organisation.
