Dr. Doyin Okupe, a former presidential spokesperson, passed away on March 7, 2025, at the age of 72.
He was a senior adviser to former President Goodluck Jonathan and served as the Director-General of Peter Obi’s 2023 Presidential Campaign.
10 Key Facts About Doyin Okupe:
1. Early Life & Education – Born on March 22, 1952, in Iperu, Ogun State, Okupe attended St. Jude’s School, Igbobi College, and later studied at the University of Ibadan.
2. Medical Career – He worked at St. Nicholas Hospital and co-founded Royal Cross Medical Centre, where he served as Managing Director.
3. Entry into Politics – Okupe first ran for a seat in the House of Representatives under the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) in 1983. In the 1990s, he became the National Publicity Secretary of the National Republican Convention (NRC).
4. Role as a Presidential Aide – He served as Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to President Olusegun Obasanjo and later became Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs to President Goodluck Jonathan in 2012.
5. Detention & Political Challenges – Okupe was detained in 1996 under General Sani Abacha’s regime and was later disqualified from contesting the United Nigeria Congress Party (UNCP) primaries in 1998.
6. Party Affiliations & Campaign Roles – Throughout his career, he worked on presidential campaigns for Olusegun Obasanjo, Goodluck Jonathan, Bukola Saraki, and Atiku Abubakar. He was associated with several political parties, including the PDP, Accord Party, and Labour Party.
7. EFCC Investigation – In 2012, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) investigated him over uncompleted contracts in Benue and Imo states.
8. Family & Personal Life – He was married to Aduralere Okupe and had two children.
9. Health Struggles – In 2020, he and his wife survived COVID-19.
10. Final Political Engagement – He was initially named as Peter Obi’s running mate under the Labour Party in 2023 but stepped down when a permanent vice-presidential candidate was chosen.
