Doyin Okupe dismisses claims of rigging in the 2023 Nigerian presidential election, asserting Peter Obi’s victory in key APC strongholds. Okupe defends President Tinubu’s reform agenda, expressing belief in his leadership despite the country’s current challenges. He calls for patience and support to overcome Nigeria’s political issues.
In a recent statement, Doyin Okupe, the former Director-General of the Labour Party’s presidential campaign, dismissed claims of rigging in the 2023 Nigerian presidential election. Okupe, who previously served as a spokesman for Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, questioned the accusations of fraud made by Peter Obi and his supporters. He argued that if the elections had truly been rigged, Obi would not have won in areas traditionally strong for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), including President Bola Tinubu’s home base.
Okupe emphasized that while no election in Nigeria has been entirely free of manipulation, the 2023 election results were reflective of the true voting patterns under the circumstances. He further explained that despite criticisms, the Labour Party’s performance was as strong as possible, given the conditions at the time.
While acknowledging that rigging may have occurred in some form, Okupe made it clear that he does not believe the presidency was "stolen" and that the results were not tampered with in any significant way. He also stated that the presidency has faced numerous challenges, with Tinubu inheriting a difficult situation.
In addition to his stance on the election, Okupe expressed strong support for President Tinubu's policies, particularly his reform agenda. He believes that with time, the president’s plans will begin to show positive results, urging Nigerians to remain patient and back the administration for the country's betterment.
