Former Presidential Spokesperson Doyin Okupe Dies at 72
Dr. Doyin Okupe, former spokesperson to ex-Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, has died at the age of 72. Okupe, a political strategist and medical doctor, passed away early Friday in Lagos after battling a prolonged illness.
His death was confirmed by Jamiu Ashimi, Chairman of Ikenne Local Government, who expressed his condolences, saying, “I just confirmed the tragic news of the passing of Dr. Doyin Okupe. May his soul rest in peace.” Chief Michael Adesanya, the Asojuoba of Isara Remo, also verified the news.
Okupe was a seasoned political figure who played a key role in Nigeria’s media and governance. He 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. In 2023, he led Peter Obi’s presidential campaign under the Labour Party before stepping down due to legal issues.
His political career faced controversies, including his conviction in December 2022 for violating the Money Laundering Act by receiving cash payments above the legal limit without passing through a financial institution. Following this, he resigned from Obi’s campaign and later left the Labour Party.
Despite these challenges, Okupe remained an influential voice in Nigerian politics. In recent years, he openly supported President Bola Tinubu’s administration and frequently contributed to political discussions.
Beyond politics, Okupe was a trained physician and co-founder of the Royal Cross Medical Centre. He previously served as the National Publicity Secretary of the National Republican Convention (NRC) and once ran for the Ogun State governorship under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
His passing marks the loss of a key figure in Nigeria’s political and media landscape.
