Dr. Doyin Okupe, a former spokesperson to ex-Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, has passed away in the early hours of Friday in Lagos at the age of 72.
Confirming his death was the Chairman of Ikenne Local Government, Jamiu Ashimi, who noted that Okupe died after battling an undisclosed illness for awhile.
Okupe, who hailed from Iperu-Remo in Ikenne Local Government Area of Ogun State, was a medical doctor turned politician.
“I just confirmed the tragic news of the passing of Dr. Doyin Okupe. May his soul rest in peace,” Ashimi said.
A close associate of the late politician, Chief Michael Adesanya, the Asojuoba of Isara Remo, also confirmed the news in a phone conversation, stating that Okupe died in Lagos early Friday morning.
Okupe served as Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to President Obasanjo and later as Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs to President Jonathan. In 2023, he briefly held the position of Director-General of Peter Obi’s presidential campaign before stepping down following a legal controversy.
His political career was not without challenges. In December 2022, he was convicted for violating sections of the Money Laundering Act after being found guilty of receiving cash payments beyond the legally allowed threshold. The ruling, delivered by Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu, led to his resignation from Obi’s campaign.
Following the 2023 general elections, Okupe distanced himself from the Labour Party and emerged as a strong supporter of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, actively engaging in political discussions and debates.
Beyond politics, Okupe was a trained physician and co-founder of Royal Cross Medical Centre. He also held the position of National Publicity Secretary of the now-defunct National Republican Convention and once aspired to govern Ogun State under the Peoples Democratic Party.
Renowned for his bold political views and candid commentary, Okupe remained a prominent and sometimes controversial figure in Nigeria’s political landscape until his passing.
