By Doyin Okupe, a former aide to ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, is currently trending on Twitter, following his self-pronouncement as the running mate of the Labour Party’s presidential flagbearer, Peter Obi.
Speaking on Friday during a Channels Television programme, Okupe said he is standing in as the vice presidential candidate of the party, and that his name was already submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to meet the June 17 deadline.
The politician, however, said the Labour Party would pick another running mate for Obi in due time.
The emergence of Okupe, as Obi’s running mate — albeit as a placeholder — has generated mixed reactions from Nigerians on Twitter. While some kicked against the idea of Southern-Southern ticket, others believe the Labour Party is ill-prepared for the 2023 presidential elections.
Read some of the tweets below:
Peter Obi naming Doyin Okupe as his running mate is the peak of comedy in political space. This reveals two things;
1. The unpreparedness of a supposed ready candidate.
2. The invisibility of the Labour Party in the North. The only reason they can't get a Northern placeholder.
— Premier (@SodiqTade) June 17, 2022
https://twitter.com/YarKafanchan/status/1537866172653256704?t=A7mC1DFX25HYkPkyBRsRsQ&s=19
What is Doyin Okupe ends up being the real VP candidate? Ticket don cut be that cos that’s not a balanced combination.
— Adewale Adetona (@iSlimfit) June 17, 2022
As at today, 17 June, 2022 in the history of Nigeria political environment, we have a Christian as a Presidential Candidate from South and a Vice President as a Christian from South too. They are Peter Obi & Doyin Okupe. Hope CAN is happy. Christianazation of Nigeria for NOW oo
— Woye (@woye1) June 17, 2022
Doyin Okupe is not a breath of fresh air though.
— Man of Letters. (@Letter_to_Jack) June 17, 2022
Do you know who Doyin Okupe is? He was worse than garba shehu, femi adesina combined together!
Kai! https://t.co/5QsJXWL2ed— Aisha Yesufu (@AishaYesufu) June 17, 2022
@PeterObi submitted the name of Doyin Okupe as his running mate, for a politician who claim to be different from the rest, Mazi "Saint" Obi just failed in his first real test to prove he's actually not as different as the other politicians. Circumventing @inecnigeria regulations. https://t.co/dq3T0BFXus
— Káyọ̀dé Ògúndámisí 🇳🇬 (@ogundamisi) June 17, 2022
