Michael Opeyemi Bamidele (born July 29, 1963) popularly known as MOB, is a Nigerian lawyer, human right activist, politician and member of the 7th National Assembly, 8th National Assembly and 9th National Assembly consecutively representing Ekiti Central Senatorial District of Ekiti state at the Nigerian senate.[1][2]
Bamidele was born on July 29, 1963, at Iyin Ekiti, a town in Ekiti State, southwestern Nigeria into the family of the late Sir Stephen Ogunjuyigbe Bamidele but 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.[3]
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.[4]
Bamidele proceeded to Franklin Pierce University where he received a master's degree in law and was called to the New York Bar in January 1999. He was one of the defence counsel, led by Chief Godwin Olusegun Kolawole Ajayi to the Moshood Abiola on his treason trial.[5]
Political life[]
In June 1992, he contested in the primary elections to the Federal House of Representatives representing Oshodi/Isolo Federal Constituency in Lagos State under the platform of Social Democratic Party but lost.[6]
He served as special assistant on legal matters to Senator Bola Tinubu until November 1993 when Nigeria's democracy was truncated by the General Sanni Abacha.[7]
In July 2000, he was appointed senior special assistant on political and intergovernmental relations to the .[8]
He was later appointed as commissioner for Lagos State Ministry of Youth, Sports and Social Development in Bola Tinubu's administration. On April 2011, he was elected as a member of the 7th National Assembly to represent Ekiti Central federal constituency 1. In March 2015, in his article entitled: “My hatred for Asiwaju Bola Tinubu”, criticized the released of The Lion of Bourdilion, a documentary film aired by Africa Independent Television on March 1, 2015 and the role played by the opposition party, in the release of the controversial film.[9]
APC: All Progressives Congress - PDP: People's Democratic Party - YPP: Young Progressives Party
^Abbo was elected as a member of the PDP but switched to the APC in November 2020.
^The PDP's Ekpenyong was elected Senator in 2019 but a Court of Appeal partially annulled the results and called a supplementary election in the affected areas. Ekpenyong won the ensuing rerun election and was sworn-in again in January 2020.
^Oduah was elected as a member of the PDP but switched to the APC in August 2021.
^The PDP's Douye Diri was elected Senator in 2019 but resigned in February 2020 after winning election to become Bayelsa State Governor. Cleopas won the ensuing bye-election and took office in December 2020.
^The PDP's Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo was elected Senator in 2019 but resigned in February 2020 after winning election to become Bayelsa State Deputy Governor. Dickson won the ensuing bye-election and took office in December 2020.
^The PDP's Rose Okoji Oko was elected Senator in 2019 but died in March 2020. Jarigbe and fellow PDP member Stephen Odey fought in court over the ensuing by-election's PDP nomination; Odey won both initial court decisions and the by-election before taking office late in December 2020. However, Jarigbe later won several court challenges which declared him the legitimate PDP nominee and thus Senator. Jarigbe took office in September 2021.
^Nwaoboshi was elected as a member of the PDP but switched to the APC in June 2021.
^The APC's Adebayo Clement Adeyeye was elected Senator in 2019 but the NASS Election Petition Tribunal awarded and Court of Appeal affirmed the win to Olujimi. She took office in November 2019.
^Due to disputes over alleged irregularities, the APC's Benjamin Uwajumogu was not sworn in until July 2019. Uwajumogu died in December 2019 leading to a bye-election. After disputes, Ibezim was awarded the bye-election victory and took office in April 2021.
^Due to disputes over the alleged forced declaration of his election, Okorocha was not sworn in until June 14, 2019.
^The PDP's Dino Melaye was elected Senator in 2019 but Adeyemi petitioned against the results and the NASS Election Petition Tribunal annulled the results and called a new election. Adeyemi won the ensuing rerun election and took office in December 2019.
^The APC's Adebayo Osinowo was elected Senator in 2019 but died in June 2020. Abiru won the ensuing bye-election and took office in December 2020.
^The APC's David Umaru was elected Senator in 2019 but the Supreme Court awarded the APC primary win to Musa making him Senator. He took office in July 2019.
^The APC's Ignatius Datong Longjan was elected Senator in 2019 but died in February 2020. Daduut won the ensuing bye-election and took office in December 2020.
^The APC's was elected Senator in 2019 but a Court of Appeal awarded the win to Danbaba. He took office in November 2019.
^ abcPrior to inauguration, the APC's Zamfara votes were voided due to improper holding of party primaries. Thus the PDP runners-up took office. All three (Anka, Gusau, Yaú) switched to the APC in June 2021.