- Things You Should Know About Former presidential Aide Doyin Okupe .
- He was a medical doctor turned politician, serving under Obasanjo and Jonathan.
- Okupe faced legal battles, leaving PDP and Labour Party before his death.
Dr. Doyin Okupe, a former presidential aide and seasoned political strategist, has passed away at the age of 72. A trained medical doctor who later became a key player in Nigerian politics, Okupe served as a media adviser to former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan.
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From his early days as a politician to his legal battles and health struggles, here are 10 key facts about his life and career.
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Early Life and Education – EKO HOT BLOG reports that Doyin Okupe was born on March 22, 1952, in Iperu, Ogun State, Nigeria. He attended St. Jude’s School, Igbobi College, and later studied medicine at the University of Ibadan. He became a medical doctor and co-founded the Royal Cross Medical Centre in Lagos.
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Entry into Politics – Despite his medical background, Okupe ventured into politics in 1983, contesting for a House of Representatives seat under the National Party of Nigeria (NPN). He later became the National Publicity Secretary of the National Republican Convention (NRC) and played a role in the 1993 presidential election.
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Detention Under Abacha – In 1996, Okupe was detained by General Sani Abacha’s military regime. His political ambitions were also cut short in 1998 when he was disqualified from contesting primaries under the United Nigeria Congress Party (UNCP).
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Presidential Media Roles – Okupe served as Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to President Olusegun Obasanjo. In 2012, he was appointed as Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs to President Goodluck Jonathan, making him a key media strategist for the government.
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Failed Ogun Governorship Bid – In 2002, he contested for the Ogun State governorship ticket under the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) but lost to Gbenga Daniel. Despite this setback, he remained an influential figure within the party.
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Political Party Switches – Okupe left the PDP in 2017 to join the Accord Party, but after becoming the Chairman of Bukola Saraki’s Campaign Media Council in 2018, he was expelled. He later returned to the PDP and worked as a spokesperson for Atiku Abubakar’s 2019 presidential campaign.
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Role in the Labour Party – Ahead of the 2023 elections, Okupe joined the Labour Party and briefly served as Peter Obi’s running mate before stepping down. He later became the Director-General of Obi’s presidential campaign but resigned after his conviction on money laundering charges.
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Legal Battles and Conviction – In 2019, he was arraigned by the EFCC on charges of money laundering amounting to ₦702 million. In December 2022, he was found guilty of receiving over ₦200 million in cash and was sentenced to two years in prison, which he avoided by paying a ₦13 million fine.
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Health Struggles – Okupe battled prostate cancer for over 16 years and was later diagnosed with sarcoma in his right shoulder. He sought medical treatment abroad but continued to struggle with his health.
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Death – On March 7, 2025, Okupe passed away at the age of 72. His death marked the end of a long career spanning medicine, politics, and media influence in Nigeria.
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