- Doyin Okupe, former presidential spokesperson, is reportedly in critical condition amid growing death rumours
- Political associates claimed Okupe passed away, but no official statement has been released by his family
- Okupe previously spoke about his cancer journey, reflecting on how it changed his lifestyle and faith
Former Director-General of Peter Obi Presidential Campaign Council, Dr. Doyin Okupe, is at the center of growing uncertainty regarding his reported death.
As of Friday morning, March 7, sources close to the family indicated that Okupe, the former Director-General of the Peter Obi Presidential Campaign Council, was in critical condition.
Rumours of Doyin Okupe’s death circulate
However, political associates of Okupe, speaking on condition of anonymity, claimed that he had passed away. According to an undisclosed source, Okupe had been battling severe health issues for weeks before undergoing surgery at an undisclosed hospital.
At the time of this report, no official statement had been released by his family to confirm or deny the rumours.
Okupe, who served as a senior adviser to former President Goodluck Jonathan, had a prominent role in Nigerian politics. He later became the Director-General of Peter Obi’s 2023 presidential campaign but stepped down in December 2022 following a money laundering case.
Doyin Okupe opens up on battle with cancer
Recall that in May 2024, Okupe publicly discussed his ongoing battle with cancer during an appearance on Channels Television's Political Paradigm.
He revealed that the weight loss he had experienced was partly due to chemotherapy treatments for cancer, which had caused significant health challenges.
"I wasn’t eating any food at all except carrot juice with some nutrients, plants for 30 days and I lost an additional 10kg. Today I’m between 92 and 93," he shared during the interview. Okupe attributed his weight loss to a combination of cancer treatments and a strict fluid fast.
He also reflected on his health transformation, revealing that his battle with cancer led to significant changes in his lifestyle, including improved control over his hypertension and diabetes, as well as the disappearance of sleep problems.
"I love food, I love eating; I eat good food. But now I don’t even care, I don’t eat anything and whenever I do, it’s in moderation; not like before. Now, I don’t crave food. I’m just grateful to God," Okupe said.
Okupe shares faith-driven mission, vows to dedicate future to evangelism
In addition to his health struggles, Okupe spoke openly about his spiritual journey. He shared that his faith had become a central part of his life, stating that he had been “ordained as an evangelist” and would dedicate his future efforts to evangelism.
"I didn’t beat cancer; God beat cancer. This is the second time I was having cancer... In all this, I bear witness to God and Jesus Christ. God said ‘I am the maker of heaven and earth, is there something impossible or difficult for me to do?’ And I testify to the fact that there’s absolutely nothing that God cannot do," he emphasised during the interview.
12 things to know about Edwin Clark, Ijaw leader and political giant who died at 97
Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that Edwin Clark, a towering figure in Nigerian politics and an Ijaw leader, passed away on February 17 at the age of 97.
A staunch advocate for the Niger Delta, Clark championed resource control and economic development in the region. TheRadar compiled 12 facts about the elder statesman.