Four politicians of Nigerian descent have come out victorious in the United States midterm elections, securing elective positions in different parts of America, while another Nigerian-born contender is waiting for the final result of his contest
The successful candidates are Will Jawando, Junior Ezeonu, Oye Owolewa and Carol Kazeem, who secured victories in Maryland, Texas, Washington, DC, and Pennsylvania during Tuesday’s elections.
In Maryland, Jawando, who battled on the platform of the Democratic Party, defeated Republican Esther Wells to emerge victorious in the Montgomery County executive election. Results released by NBC Washington put his votes at 237,383, representing 78.15 per cent, while Wells garnereed 66,383 votes, or 21.85 per cent, with 72 per cent of the expected ballots counted.
Jawando, who previously served as a member of the Montgomery County Council, has Nigerian roots through his father, while his mother is American. His triumph marks another major step in his political career.
In Texas, 27-year-old Junior Ezeonu won election to the state House of Representatives for District 101 after getting the nomination of the
Democratic party.
His route to success was uncontested in the November election, as no Republican candidate featured on the ballot.
Ezeonu was born in Onitsha, Anambra State, but moved to the United States with his family when he was two years old. He ventured into local politics in 2021 through his election to the Grand Prairie City Council before becoming the youngest person to secure the city’s mayor pro tempore position.
Oye Owolewa also won an at-large position on the District of Columbia Council, getting 69 per cent of the votes to defeat independent candidate Elissa Silverman, who secured 21 per cent, according to local publication, The 51st.
A pharmacist and son of Nigerian immigrants from Kwara and Osun states, Owolewa had held the position of Washington, DC’s shadow representative, where he campaigned for statehood without enjoying voting privileges in the US Congress.
In Pennsylvania, Carol Kazeem successfully defended her seat in the state House of Representatives for District 159, beating Republican Michael Bannon. She had previously entered into the history book alongside other Nigerian-Americans who won legislative seats during the 2022 midterm elections.
In the meantime, attention turned to Georgia, where Nigerian-born incumbent Segun Adeyina was seeking another term in the state House of Representatives. He contested District 110 against Republican Charles Lollar, with early results showing him ahead by 1,353 votes to 689, although only eight per cent of the estimated ballots had been counted..
First elected in 2022, Adeyina represents parts of Gwinnett County. Aside from his legislative duties, he heads the Nigerian American Public Advisory Committee, an organisation focused on promoting voter education and registration among immigrant communities.dd
