Doyin Okupe, former director-general of the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential campaign, announced he “cannot support” Peter Obi again due to Obi’s recent remarks on Nigeria’s economy, which Okupe found offensive to the Yoruba community.
In an interview with Channels Television’s Seun Okinbaloye, Okupe expressed disappointment over Obi’s comments that appeared to critique conditions in the southwest under President Bola Tinubu. In a clip that sparked debate on social media, Obi referenced high rice prices and questioned if any region was seeing relief, remarking, “It’s our turn,’ ‘he is a Yoruba man’—ask the people in Ogun, is there any place you people buy bread cheaper?”
Okupe criticized these statements, saying, “When Obi made that statement, it insulted us. I am a Yoruba man; I left everything and followed Obi.” He noted that Obi had enjoyed significant support from Yoruba leaders during his campaign, adding, “If all these eminent Yoruba people supported you, why now bring us down publicly? It is wrong.”
Reflecting on his past endorsement, Okupe stated, “I do not regret supporting Peter Obi. But now I cannot do it again,” explaining that his support was originally based on a shared goal for a southern president, which he hoped would be from the southeast.
