Bamidele Michael Opeyemi

APC✓ WON

Election2023 Nigerian Senate Elections →

RaceEkiti race →

StateEkiti →

PartyAll Progressives Congress (APC) →

Born29 July 1963 (age 62)

GenderMale

EducationObafemi Awolowo University, University of Benin, Baptist Academy

BirthplaceEkiti State

OccupationLawyer

QualificationALL SAINTS PRY. SCHOOL, OWODE EGBA , OGUN STATE EGBA OWODE GRAMMAR SCHOOL, OWODE EGBA, OGUN STATE UNIVERSITY OF IFE, ILE - IFE (NOW O. A U), ILE - IFE)

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Summary

Bamidele Michael Opeyemi is a Nigerian politician who contested the 2023 Nigerian Senate Elections as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in Ekiti.

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This race Biography Policies13 News15

2023APCSenate ElectionWon

2019APCSenate ElectionWon→See Bamidele Michael Opeyemi’s full career →

In this race · 2023 Nigerian Senate ElectionsAll candidates →

Abiodun Fasakin Isaac

SDP

Adaramodu Adeyemi Raphael

APC

Adeleye John Olusegun

PRP

Aiyegbusi Akinloye Oladele

SDP

Ajijola Lateef Oladimeji

PDP

Arowolo Olusesan David

SDP

Biography

Michael Opeyemi Bamidele (born 29 July 1963) popularly known as MOB, is a Nigerian lawyer, human rights activist, and politician who is currently serving as the majority leader of the Nigerian Senate since 2023. He has represented Ekiti Central senatorial district in the Nigerian Senate since 2019.

Bamidele was born on 29 July 1963, at Iyin Ekiti, a town in Ekiti State, southwestern Nigeria. He spent his early life in Lagos State where he attended Baptist Academy secondary school and then Obafemi Awolowo University where he obtained a bachelor's degree in religious studies.

Bamidele later attended the University of Benin where he received a bachelor's degree in law in 1990. Having graduated from the Nigerian Law School, he was called to the bar in 1992.

He proceeded to Franklin Pierce University, receiving a master's degree in law and was called to the New York Bar in January 1999. He was one of the defense counsel, led by Chief Godwin Olusegun Kolawole Ajayi, in the treason trial of Moshood Abiola.

In June 1992, he contested in the primary elections for the Federal House of Representatives representing Oshodi/Isolo Federal Constituency in Lagos State under the Social Democratic Party but lost.

He served as a special assistant on legal matters to Senator Bola Tinubu until November 1993. After the truncation of Nigeria’s democracy by General Sanni Abacha, he was appointed senior special assistant on political and intergovernmental relations to the Lagos State governor in July 2000.

Later, he was appointed as Commissioner for Lagos State Ministry of Youth, Sports, and Social Development in Bola Tinubu’s administration. In April 2011, he was elected as a member of the 7th National Assembly to represent Ekiti Central federal constituency 1.

In March 2015, in an article titled 'My hatred for Asiwaju Bola Tinubu,' he criticized the release of The Lion of Bourdilion, a documentary film by Africa Independent Television, and the opposition party’s role in its release.

He served as MHR (Member of the House of Representatives) from June 2011 to June 2015. He was Honorable Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Lagos State (July 2007 to February 2011) and Honorable Commissioner for Youths, Sports, and Social Development, Lagos State (July 2003 to May 2007).

He was also a Special Adviser to the Governor on Political and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Lagos State (July 2000 to May 2003).

Bamidele became a Life Bencher Fellow of the Body of Benchers (Nigeria) and a Chaired Institute of Arbitrators (Nigeria). In October 2022, a Nigerian national honor of Commander Of The Order Of The Niger (CON) was conferred on him by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Party Positions

Policy positions from the All Progressives Congress (APC) party manifesto.

Security & Defense

Enhances compensation, medical care, housing support, scholarships, stipends, and health insurance for military personnel injured in duty and their families.

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Governance & Reform

Commits to amending Nigeria’s governance architecture through constitutional review and collaboration with the National Assembly and State Governments to grant States greater autonomy over critical matters like crime prevention, prisons, stamp duties, and taxation.

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Economy & Trade

Reforms the Federal Budgetary Methodology to move away from oil revenue dependence and base spending on projected growth, establishing an inflationary ceiling to optimize fiscal policy without causing excessive inflation.

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Infrastructure

Launches a National Infrastructure Campaign to modernize national infrastructure by hiring millions of unemployed Nigerians through the fiscal flexibility gained from reforming budgetary methodology.

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Agriculture

Will encourage local farmers to form farm cooperatives, enabling them to pool resources for modern farming equipment, fertiliser, and access priority government agricultural assistance programs (extension services), with tax breaks and credits.

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Environment & Climate

Will **reduce Nigeria’s gas flaring** by removing it from the top 10 countries with highest flares, aiming to maximize sector benefits while eliminating environmental harm.

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Anti-corruption

Curb reliance on imported goods via luxury taxes, higher tariffs, and processing fees while incentivizing local manufacturing with tax credits/rebates.

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Enterprise grant support

Provides tax credits, holidays, and reduced interest rate loans for businesses that hire a specified percentage of youth in their workforce and offer on-the-job training.

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Energy

Will increase Nigeria’s domestic crude oil production to **2.6 million barrels per day by 2027** and **4 million barrels per day by 2030**, while implementing a Special Enforcement and Monitoring Unit to deter theft, vandalism, and pipeline breaches using drones and aerial surveillance.

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Education

Introduces a new management system for federally funded primary and secondary schools via Boards of Education, reserving community representation in decision-making.

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Healthcare

Will strengthen primary healthcare infrastructure with incentive schemes, counterpart funding programs, and grassroots preventative care (vaccinations, cancer screening, blood pressure monitoring) in collaboration with state/local governments.

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Technology & Digital

Establishment of an advisory committee to review and reform regulatory frameworks for blockchain technology and virtual asset services.

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Reliefs and scholarships

Provides **conditional income support** to very poor households, tied to human capital development goals like high-school attendance, healthcare, and nutrition.

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