A public health physician and international development expert, Dr Michael Olugbile, has declared his intention to contest the Odo-Otin/Ifelodun/Boripe Federal Constituency seat in the House of Representatives in the 2027 general elections on the platform of the Accord Party.
Olugbile, a native of Okuku in Odo-Otin Local Government Area of Osun State, said his decision was driven by years of involvement in public service, community development, and a desire for equitable representation across the constituency.
Speaking on his ambition, he said, “For over two decades, Odo-Otin has not enjoyed equitable representation in the National Assembly. This is not about privilege; it is about fairness and balance.”
The aspirant, who has over 20 years’ experience in global health and development, is a Harvard University-trained public health professional currently overseeing a multi-donor continental health portfolio across the 55 countries of the African Union.
He previously served as a Senior Health Specialist at the World Bank for over 12 years, where he supervised large-scale health programmes across Nigeria, West Africa, and the Horn of Africa.
Despite his international career, Olugbile said he had maintained strong ties with his constituency through self-funded interventions in education, healthcare, and empowerment.
According to him, more than 1,000 students have benefited from his sponsorship for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) since 2017, while about 250 students across public secondary schools have received scholarships under the DMO Scholars programme.
He added that he had also recruited and deployed 20 ad-hoc teachers to underserved schools within the constituency and instituted annual “Teacher of the Year” awards in collaboration with the Nigeria Union of Teachers.
Olugbile further noted that his medical outreach programmes had provided free healthcare services to about 5,000 residents across the 38 political wards in the constituency.
Recounting the origin of his political journey, he said his interest in elective office began in 2013 during a development assignment.
“That moment sparked a deeper reflection about service and representation. Since then, I have remained committed to that calling,” he said.
Olugbile has contested the House of Representatives seat in the 2015, 2019, and 2023 elections, first under the All Progressives Congress and later under the Accord Party.
His campaign structure, known as Team DMO, has since built a presence across the 38 wards in the constituency, contributing to the growing visibility of the Accord Party in the area.
Political observers say his participation in the 2023 election helped strengthen the party’s base in the constituency, especially amid evolving political alignments in the state.
Beyond politics, Olugbile also served as Senior Technical Adviser to the Osun State Governor between 2017 and 2018, where he led the establishment of a Programme Delivery Unit to coordinate donor-funded development initiatives.
Speaking on his aspiration, he said his candidacy was aimed at fostering unity and ensuring balanced development across Odo-Otin, Ifelodun, and Boripe local government areas.
“With humility and a deep sense of responsibility, I am ready to make the sacrifices necessary to represent the people,” he said. “Together, we can have a representative who genuinely cares and will truly serve the constituents.”
He called on stakeholders across the constituency, including youths, artisans, students, traditional leaders, and community groups, to support his bid.
