Dr. Doyin Okupe, a veteran politician and former spokesperson to ex-Presidents, Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, has passed away at the age of 72.
He died in the early hours of Friday in Lagos after battling a prolonged illness.
The Chairman of Ikenne Local Government in Ogun State, Jamiu Ashimi, confirmed his passing, expressing condolences to the family.
Chief Michael Adesanya, the Asojuoba of Isara Remo, also verified the news, stating that Okupe died in Lagos.
Okupe, a native of Iperu-Remo in Ogun State, was a key figure in Nigerian politics and media strategy.
He served as Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to President Obasanjo and later as Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs to President Jonathan.
In the lead-up to the 2023 elections, he was appointed Director-General of Peter Obi’s presidential campaign under the Labour Party but resigned following legal issues.
His political journey was marked by both influence and controversy.
In 2022, he was convicted for breaching the Money Laundering Act by receiving cash beyond the permitted limit without going through financial institutions.
This development led to his resignation from Obi’s campaign and his eventual departure from the Labour Party after the 2023 elections.
Despite these challenges, Okupe remained a vocal participant in Nigeria’s political discourse.
In recent years, he aligned himself with President Bola Tinubu’s administration, often commenting on national issues.
Beyond politics, Okupe was a medical doctor and co-founder of the Royal Cross Medical Centre.
He also served as the National Publicity Secretary of the National Republican Convention (NRC) and once contested for the Ogun State governorship under the PDP.
