The Labour Party has expressed sorrow over the death of Dr. Doyin Okupe, a former Director-General of its 2023 presidential campaign.
Okupe passed away early this morning at the age of 72 after battling a long illness suspected to be cancer.
His sudden death came as a shock to the party’s leadership, as he remained a respected figure within its ranks even after resigning last year due to personal reasons.
Despite stepping away, he continued to offer advice and support to the party, maintaining strong ties with its members.
Okupe, a medical doctor turned politician, had a long history in Nigerian politics.
Before joining the Labour Party in 2022, he played key roles in different political movements.
He once served as the National Publicity Secretary of the National Republican Convention (NRC) and was detained during General Sani Abacha’s regime.
He also worked as a senior adviser to former President Goodluck Jonathan.
During the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential campaign, Okupe was first named as a placeholder for the vice-presidential slot before stepping down for a northern candidate.
Reacting to the news, former presidential candidate Peter Obi expressed deep sadness, calling Okupe an influential figure who worked for a better Nigeria.
Obi urged members of the Obidient Movement to pray for Okupe’s family and honor his contributions.
President Bola Tinubu also extended his condolences to Okupe’s family, friends, and associates.
Recalling Okupe’s role in Nigeria’s political space, Tinubu praised his contributions as a strategist, communicator, and public servant.
He noted that Okupe’s work over three decades left a lasting impact, especially in his home state of Ogun.
Okupe was not only active in politics but also made contributions to the medical field as a co-founder of the Royal Cross Medical Centre in Lagos and the publisher of Life Mirror, a health-focused newspaper.
