Lagos, Nigeria – Former Director-General of the Labour Party (LP) Presidential Campaign, Dr Doyin Okupe, has refuted allegations that the 2023 presidential election was rigged by the All Progressives Congress (APC).
In a statement released on Thursday, Okupe argued that claims of electoral fraud lack credibility, pointing to unexpected outcomes in key strongholds.
He questioned how the LP presidential candidate, Peter Obi, could win in President Bola Tinubu’s home state while the APC suffered losses in the strongholds of former President Muhammadu Buhari and the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
“If Peter Obi (the LP presidential candidate) or the Labour Party says APC rigged elections, how come Obi was able to win in the home base of President Bola Tinubu?” Okupe queried. “How come APC lost elections in the home base of the sitting President (Muhammadu Buhari)? How come APC lost elections in the home base of the secretary to that government?”
He acknowledged that while the election process was not flawless, the overall results reflected the will of the electorate. Okupe added, “Under the best of conditions, the results may not have been exact, but the ratio would be similar. We in the Labour Party could not have done better than we did, and that is a discussion for another day.”
Okupe criticised opposition parties like the LP and PDP for claiming that the presidency was “stolen,” calling such assertions unrealistic. He stated, “There’s nothing like that. No presidency was stolen. While I am not saying there was no rigging, every election in Nigeria since 1960 has been rigged in some way, except for MKO Abiola’s election, which was uniquely transparent.”
Praise for Tinubu’s Leadership
Okupe expressed confidence in President Bola Tinubu’s governance, likening him to Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the late Premier of the Western Region, renowned for his visionary policies.
“Tinubu has impressed me not only as a politician but as a technocrat. He has development ideologies and policies at his fingertips,” Okupe said. “To claim he came into office without a plan is baseless.”
Drawing on his experience with past administrations, Okupe praised Tinubu’s preparation for leadership, stating, “I have worked with two past presidents and studied others closely. I do not know any Nigerian president from 1960 to date who has come more prepared for governance than this gentleman. Unfortunately, he has assumed office at a very challenging time.”
Call for Patience Amid Reforms
Okupe urged Nigerians to be patient with Tinubu, emphasizing that the current economic challenges are part of necessary reforms to address systemic issues.
“It would be unfair to hold Tinubu accountable for the ills of 40 years. The President needs a minimum of two years for some of his policies to begin yielding results. The next few years will be difficult, but he is doing what past leaders over the last 10 or 20 years failed to do,” Okupe stated.
He noted that transformative progress often comes with short-term sacrifices, citing examples of countries like Singapore and Malaysia. Okupe explained that Tinubu faced a choice between continuing with “business as usual” or implementing bold reforms.
“By the time he took office, 98 per cent of our revenue was being used to pay debt. He had no other choice but to adopt drastic measures,” Okupe remarked.
Rallying Support for Growth
Okupe called on Nigerians to support Tinubu’s administration in addressing the nation’s challenges and unlocking its growth potential.
“The reforms are painful, but they are necessary for long-term development. Nigerians must rally behind the President to help navigate these difficult times and move the country forward,” Okupe concluded.
