Labour Party Picks Akin Osuntokun as New Campaign DG

The Peter Obi-Baba Ahmed campaign organisation of the Labour Party (LP), has named former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s aide, Balogun Akin Osuntokun as its new Director-General.

The appointment followed the resignation of Doyin Okupe who held sway in the same position until last week.

Okupe had resigned his appointment following his conviction by a Federal High Court in Abuja

Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu had found Okupe guilty and sentenced him to two years imprisonment or an option of N13m, for contravening sections 16(1)&(2) of the Money Laundering Act, for accepting cash payments without going through the financial institution, in excess of the threshold allowed under the Act.

Although, Okupe paid the fine and returned home, but in a letter dated December 20, 2022, Okupe said, he would rather step aside  as Campaign DG to avoid distractions in the Labour Party while pursuing his appeal to seek justice.

But National Chairman of the LP, Julious Abure, who announced the appointment of Osuntokun on Tuesday, said the decision was reached after wide consultations with party stakeholders across board.

Until recently, Osuntokun was the Party’s Zonal Coordinator (South). He is a Nigerian political scientist, strategist, researcher, administrator, journalist and writer, with experience in media advocacy, policy research and implementation and political analysis.

A former Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria, Osuntokun served as Political Adviser to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, and as Director of the Presidential campaign of the People’s Democratic Party in 2011.

-diplomatic diary