Dr. Doyin Okupe, former presidential spokesperson to Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, has passed away at the age of 72. The season
ed politician, known for his dramatic political shifts and controversial career, died in the early hours of Friday in Lagos after a prolonged illness.
His death was confirmed by the Chairman of Ikenne Local Government, Jamiu Ashimi, who described it as a tragic loss.
A Life Marked by Power, Controversy, and Political Realignments
Okupe’s career was anything but ordinary. Once a key figure in the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), he later became a staunch supporter of the Labour Party (LP) during the 2023 elections, serving as the Director-General of Peter Obi’s presidential campaign. However, his time in Obi’s camp ended in disgrace when he was convicted of violating the Money Laundering Act in December 2022. A Federal High Court found him guilty of collecting cash in excess of the legal threshold, forcing him to step down from Obi’s campaign.
Following the fallout from the 2023 elections, Okupe made yet another shocking move—abandoning the Labour Party and throwing his support behind President Bola Tinubu’s administration. His sudden political shift sparked outrage, with many accusing him of opportunism.
A Master of Political Survival or a Serial Defector?
Okupe’s ability to navigate Nigeria’s turbulent political landscape made him both a respected strategist and a controversial figure. From his days as the National Publicity Secretary of the National Republican Convention (NRC) to his failed governorship ambition in Ogun State under the PDP, he remained a polarizing force in Nigerian politics.
Despite his legal troubles and shifting loyalties, Okupe never shied away from political debates, often making bold and unfiltered statements that kept him in the headlines. His legacy, however, remains deeply divisive—was he a fearless political strategist or simply a man who switched sides when convenient?
As the political class reacts to his passing, one thing is clear: Doyin Okupe lived and died as a man who thrived in the chaos of Nigeria’s ever-evolving political arena.
