Ovie Omo-Agege

Ovie Omo-Agege is a prominent Nigerian lawyer, politician, and statesman who served as the Deputy President of the Senate of Nigeria from 2019 to 2023. He represented the Delta Central Senatorial District in the Nigerian Senate from 2015 to 2023. Early Life and Education Obarisi Ovie Omo-Agege was born on August 3, 1963, in Orogun, Delta State, Nigeria. He is the son of Justice Godfrey Osiobe Omo-Agege, a retired Chief Judge of Delta State. Omo-Agege began his early education at St. George’s Primary School, Obinomba, and later attended Bendel State University (now Ambrose Alli University), Ekpoma, where he studied law and graduated in 1987. He was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1988 after completing his studies at the Nigerian Law School. In 2002, he furthered his legal education by earning a Master of Laws (LL.M.) degree from Tulane University Law School in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. Career Progression Omo-Agege began his legal career in 1989, practicing law in Nigeria and later in the United States, where he was admitted to the State Bar of California in 1999. In the United States, he worked as a foreign associate and litigator at various law firms. Upon returning to Nigeria, he transitioned into politics. His political career includes several significant appointments and electoral successes. In 2003, he was appointed as the Executive Assistant to the Governor of Delta State, James Ibori. He later served as the Commissioner for Special Duties in 2005 and was appointed as the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) of Delta State in 2007. In 2015, Omo-Agege successfully contested and was elected to represent the Delta Central Senatorial District in the Senate under the Labour Party. He defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2017. He was re-elected in 2019 and subsequently achieved a major milestone in his career. Major Achievements and Notable Works Ovie Omo-Agege’s most significant political achievement was his election as the Deputy President of the 9th Senate of Nigeria on June 11, 2019. He was the first senator from the South-South geopolitical zone since 1999 to be elected to this position. During his tenure as Deputy Senate President, he chaired the Senate Ad-hoc Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Under his leadership, the committee passed critical constitutional review bills, many of which were assented to by the President. As a senator, he sponsored several bills and motions focusing on electoral reform, judicial autonomy, and the establishment of federal institutions in his constituency. He was conferred with the national honor of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) in 2023. Current Status Following his term as Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege contested as the governorship candidate for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2023 Delta State gubernatorial election. While he did not win the election, he remains a prominent and influential leader within the APC and a key figure in Delta State and national politics.