By Dr. Doyin Okupe, a former presidential spokesman and one-time Director-General of Peter Obi’s Presidential Campaign, has died. His death was confirmed on Friday.
Okupe, who began his career as a medical doctor, later became a familiar figure in Nigerian politics. He served as Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, and later as Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs under President Goodluck Jonathan.
Born on March 22, 1952, Okupe also co-founded the Royal Cross Medical Centre. He was once the National Publicity Secretary of the now-defunct National Republican Convention (NRC) during Nigeria’s short-lived Third Republic.
His political career faced turbulence during the military regime of General Sani Abacha, which led to his detention and disqualification from participating in the United Nigeria Congress Party (UNCP) primaries.
Although he was a key figure in Peter Obi’s Labour Party campaign, Okupe eventually distanced himself from both Obi and the party. In his later years, he voiced support for the administration of President Bola Tinubu.
Dr. Okupe belonged to the prominent Agbonmagbe family from Iperu-Remo in Ogun State, a lineage known for its strong political and business ties. His death marks the end of a career filled with both controversy and influence in Nigeria’s political space.
