Jesutega Onokpasa, a prominent chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), lawyer, and political commentator, has died at the age of 49. He passed away on Monday, June 10, 2025, under yet-to-be-disclosed circumstances.
His death was announced on Tuesday by pro-APC advocate Okezie Atani via his X account.
“We lost Barr. Jesutega Onokpasa, may his soul rest in perfect peace,” Atani wrote.
A Facebook page, Renewed Hope United Kingdom, also shared a tribute titled “A Farewell to a Passionate Advocate: Honouring Jesutega Onokpasa’s Legacy.”
It stated:
“The passing of Barrister Jesutega Onokpasa is a profound loss to the Nigerian political and legal landscape. As a dedicated lawyer and political commentator, he was deeply engaged in shaping discourse and advocating for his beliefs.
His contributions as a member of the APC Publicity Committee and the APC Presidential Campaign Council in 2023 reflected his commitment to his party and the nation. Onokpasa’s voice, whether in support or critique, was a vital part of Nigeria’s democratic conversation, and his absence will be deeply felt. May his family, friends, and colleagues find strength and solace in this difficult time.
May His Soul Rest in Perfect Peace. Amen.”
Onokpasa was a key figure in the APC during the 2023 general elections. He served on the APC Presidential Campaign Council and the party’s Publicity Committee. Known for his articulate defense of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, in 2023 he appeared in media, including a memorable heated exchange with Arise TV’s Rufai Oseni, where he strongly supported Tinubu’s economic policies.
However, by 2025, Onokpasa’s tone shifted. He publicly withdrew his support for Tinubu’s re-election, citing worsening insecurity, economic hardship, and what he described as the negative impacts of the reforms by the administration and the administration’s failure to reward party loyalists.
“I will not. Does the president own the party? We all formed the party. I won’t support him if the president continues on this trajectory of disrespecting party members, treating us as beggars. Don’t disrespect us. We are citizens and party members,” he said in a recent interview on Arise Television, warning that Tinubu risked becoming a “one-term president” if no changes were made.
He accused the president of sidelining those who worked for his 2023 election victory by appointing outsiders to key government positions while ignoring die-hard party supporters.
The Advocates for Good Governance and Humanity, a group Onokpasa was affiliated with, expressed their grief in a statement signed by Director General Zainab Ibrahim.
“As a dedicated lawyer and political commentator, he was deeply engaged in shaping discourse and advocating for his beliefs.
His contributions as a member of the APC Publicity Committee and the APC Presidential Campaign Council in 2023 reflected his commitment to his party and the nation,” the group stated.
They described his death as “a profound loss to Nigeria’s political and legal landscape,” highlighting how his work inspired others to engage in Nigeria’s democratic process.
Jesutega Onokpasa is survived by his wife and children. Funeral arrangements are yet to be announced.
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