Media Man, Politician Doyin Okupe Dies of Cancer

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By Reporter

The death of Dr. Doyin Okupe, former presidential spokesperson has been confirmed this morning, Friday, March 7, 2025.

Okupe, 71, was a key figure in Nigerian politics, having served as a senior adviser to former President Goodluck Jonathan and, more recently, as the Director-General of Peter Obi’s 2023 Presidential Campaign.

However, his political journey was marked by controversies. In December 2022, Okupe stepped down from Obi’s campaign after being convicted of money laundering.

He went on to resign from the Labour Party following the defeat of Obi in the 2023 general election.

Okupe shifted gear, when he became a vocal supporter of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, frequently engaging in political commentaries.

Dr. Okupe will be remembered for his bold political stance and unfiltered opinions. He had the ability to chart his way through Nigeria’s complex political landscape and was sometimes regarded as a controversial man.

As at the time if this report, the family is yet to confirm his death and cause.

However, the late thorough breed politician had suffered from postrate twice during his life time.

Okupe announced his ‘miraculous’ recovery from postrate cancer few years ago, during a church thanksgiving service.

He told his audience that he had suffered prostate cancer but his faith in God helped him to overcome it.

He said he suffered the prostate cancer twice but triumphed.

Born in Iperu in 1952, his father, Chief Matthew Adekoya Okupe was a haulage business owner who in 1945 established a bank – the Agbonmagbe Bank which had branches in the north and the south in Zaria, Ebute Meta, Mushin, Ago-Iwoye and Ijebu Igbo.

The bank would eventually become the National Bank, and transmute into a new brand, what is known today as Wema Bank.

Chief Okupe eventually went into politics, and became a contemporary of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, H.O. Davies, Akin Maja, and Alhaji S. O. Gbadamosi.

Okupe’s foray into politics was not influenced by his father, but the elder Okupe was his first hero, who taught him about values, temperance and faith.

In his book: ‘Double Jeopardy – The Doyin Okupe Story’, which he launched two years ago when he turned 70 years, Okupe paid tribute to many mentors: those who have impacted his life positively and given him opportunities in life.

These include his maternal grandmother, who taught him the art of discipline, his half-sister, Dr. (Mrs) Adeola Olumide (nee Okupe), a medical doctor who insisted that the best path for him in life would be a career in medicine, Chief Akin Ogunmade-Davies who introduced him to the world of political communication and public relations, Chief Duro Onabule, who as editor of the National Concord newspaper taught Okupe the rudiments of media practice and writing, and gave him a platform to be heard.

There was also Biodun Shobanjo, of Insight Communications with whom he worked on political marketing for the National Republican Convention (NRC).