Dr. Doyin Okupe, a former presidential spokesperson and influential political strategist, has passed away at the age of 72. His death was confirmed on Friday, though details surrounding his passing remain unclear at this time.
Okupe served as Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to President Olusegun Obasanjo and later as Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs to President Goodluck Jonathan. He was also the Director-General of Peter Obi’s 2023 presidential campaign.
Throughout his career, Okupe was a polarizing figure in Nigerian politics. In December 2022, he stepped down from Obi’s campaign after being convicted of money laundering. Following the 2023 general election, he resigned from the Labour Party and later became a vocal supporter of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, often engaging in political debates and commentary.
Beyond politics, Okupe was a physician and co-founder of the Royal Cross Medical Centre. He once served as the National Publicity Secretary of the National Republican Convention (NRC) and was detained during General Sani Abacha’s regime. His political ambitions also saw him disqualified from United Nigeria Congress Party (UNCP) primaries and later contesting as a governorship aspirant for the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State.
Known for his bold political stance and outspoken nature, Okupe remained a significant and controversial voice in Nigeria’s political landscape until his passing.
