Dr Doyin Okupe, a former Director-General of the Labour Party (LP) Presidential Campaign, has dismissed claims that the 2023 presidential election was rigged by the All Progressives Congress (APC).

In a statement issued on Thursday in Lagos, Okupe argued that accusations of rigging by the LP and opposition PDP were unrealistic, pointing to areas where the APC had suffered losses, including in the home states of President Bola Tinubu and former President Muhammadu Buhari.

“How come Peter Obi won in the home base of Tinubu? How come APC lost in Buhari’s home base?” Okupe questioned, adding that while no election in Nigeria since 1960 has been completely free of manipulation, the 2023 results were a reflection of the reality under the given circumstances.

Okupe also expressed support for Tinubu’s presidency, calling him a capable technocrat with a clear vision for national development.

He compared Tinubu’s approach to governance to that of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, a former Premier of the Western Region, and praised his ability to think deeply about public policy.

Acknowledging the country’s economic struggles, Okupe suggested that it would take at least two years for the President’s policies to show results.

“It is going to be a couple of years of pain and hardship, but Tinubu is determined to take Nigeria to greater heights,” Okupe said, urging Nigerians to support the president in overcoming the nation