Senator representing Ekiti Central has been announced as the majority leader of the Senate while Senator Ali Ndume emerged as the Senate Whip.
Akpabio also announced senator representing Ebonyi south, David Umahi as the deputy majority leader and Senator Lola Ashiru, senator representing Kwara south, as Deputy Chief whip.
Bamidele was the former Chairman of Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters in the 9th National Assembly in the 9th Senate.
Bamidele is the Founder, Principal Attorney & Head of Chambers at the Law Office of Opeyemi Bamidele & Associates (with offices in Asokoro District, Abuja and Lekki Phase 1, Lagos) from where he is at the moment on leave of absence.
He is a New York Attorney, Member of the 7th House of Representatives and three-term Member of the prestigious Lagos State Cabinet between 2000 and 2011 when he served as Hon. Commissioner in different Ministries and under two Governors. He had served as the Senior Legislative Aide (SLA) to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 1992 when Tinubu was a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Chairman of the Senate Committee on Banking, Finance, Appropriation and Currency.
Bamidele is a lawyer without border, licensed to practise in the Federal Republic of Nigeria as a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court; an Attorney and Counselor-at-Law of the State of New York, USA; and a Notary Public of Nigeria.
He graduated, with honours in 1986, from the University of Ife (Obafemi Awolowo University), Ile-Ife with a Bachelor of Arts degree and, subsequently, from the University of Benin, Edo State, Nigeria, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) Degree with honours, in 1990.
After his call to the Nigerian Bar, Bamidele launched into a full-time legal career in 1992. He obtained a Master of Laws (LL.M) degree from the World-renowned Franklin Pierce Law Centre in the University of New Hampshire Law School, Concord, New Hampshire, USA. He specialized in Intellectual Property Law, with bias in International Patent, Trademark and Copyright Law, including the Licensing of International Transfer of Technology.
A learned counsel of no mean stature, Bamidele is an active Member of the New York and Nigerian Bar, a Member of the American Bar Association and a Member of the International Bar Association.
He is also a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (Nigeria), the Chartered Institute of Management Consultants as well as the Chartered Institute of Local Government and Public Administration, Nigeria, among others.
In October, 2019, Senator Michael Opeyemi Bamidele was appointed a Member of the prestigious Body of Benchers, Nigeria. He is a seasoned and multilateral legal practitioner, Civil Rights activist, a former Honourable Commissioner for Youth, Sports and Social Development as well as Honourable Commissioner for Information and Strategy consecutively in Lagos State.
He was a former Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Legislative Budget and Research in the 7th National Assembly. He also served as the Chairman of the National Assembly Budget and Research Office (NABRO) between July 2011 and June 2015.
In recognition of his significant contribution to the restoration, growth and development of democracy and good governance in Nigeria as well as his heroic exploits as a foremost political activist, seasoned legal practitioner, accomplished public administrator, quintessential lawmaker and consummate politician, the prestigious National Honour of the Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) was conferred on Sen.Michael Opeyemi Bamidele by the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Muhammadu Buhari in October, 2022.
Meanwhile,Senator representing Plateau North , Simeon Dayvou has been announced as the minority leader of the Senate.
The announcement was made by the Senate President, Senator God’swill Akpabio after closed session
Others nominated for minority principal officers were Oyewumi Kamorudeen Olarere (PDP Osun West), Deputy Minority Leader, Darlington Nwokeocha (LP, Abia Central) (Minority Whip) and Senator Rufai Hanga (NNPP Kano Central ) Deputy Minority Whip.
Before the announcement of Senator Dayvou as Senate Minority Whip, the minority caucus of the Senate asked the Senate President, God’swill Akpabio to call for closed door session to resolve issue sorroubding the Senate Minority leadership before announcement.
After over ten minutes closed session , Senate President announced Senator Dayvou as minority leader whip Senator Oyewumi Olalere was announced as the Deputy minority leader.
Also, Senator Darlington Nwokeocha was announced as minority whip while Senator Rufai Hanga emerged Deputy minority whip
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