At least nine candidates of Nigerian descent ran for different positions in the just-ended US elections. Final results show seven of them lost to fight another day while two won. A summary of their outings below:
- Esther Agbaje (Won)
Was elected into the Minnesota House of Representatives to represent District 59B on the platform of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party, an affiliate of the US Democratic Party. A 35-year-old lawyer, Agbaje won by a landslide polling 74.7% to defeat her closest rival, incumbent Alan Shilepsky of the Republican Party, who polled 17.7%. Some US states have bicameral legislatures—the Senate and House of Reps. Read about her political journey here.
- Oye Owolewa (Won)
A PhD in pharmacy, Oye ran on the Democratic Party platform and won to become the first Nigerian-American congressman for the Washington DC District of Columbia. He won by a landslide—82.65% and will serve as a “shadow” House of Representatives member. A shadow member is recognized as an equivalent to a federal House of Reps member, except that he or she has no voting rights. D.C. is angling to become America’s 51 states, and a shadow member pushes for that and also fights for citizens in other ways.
- Ngozi Azubuike (Lost)
A lawyer, Ngozi ran for a judicial position—to become a Ramsey County judge of the Minnesota 2nd District Court Position 8. She lost by polling 21.29%, to Judge Pat Diamond, who had 78.71% of total votes cast.
- Yomi Faparusi (Lost)
Fapas, as he is fondly called, holds a PhD in Medicine from Johns Hopkins University and is also a lawyer. He had run and lost twice before, before losing his third bid to become a US Senator to represent Tennessee. He came 4th out of five contestants, polling of 0.4% of the votes cast.
- Adewunmi Kuforiji (Lost)
Kuforiji, a Democrat, ran for Delaware House of Representatives to represent District 34. He had earlier lost in 2018. The accountant polled 42.7% against his major rival, Republican Lyndon Yearick who garnered 57.3% of the votes.
- Yinka Faleti (Lost)
Served in the US Army after which he obtained a law degree. The Democratic candidate for Missouri Secretary of State election, with 36.3% Yinka lost to his main Republican rival, John Ashcroft who polled 60.6% to victory.
- Paul Akinjo (Lost)
An IT specialist, Akinjo had earlier served in the US Army. He ran for California State House of Assembly District 12 on a Democratic Party ticket. Lost with 42.6% poll, while his Republican rival garnered 57.4%.
- Benjamin Osemenam (Lost)
An engineer who ran on the National Party ticket to become Brooklyn Park City Council (East) representative. Polled 5,003 to be defeated by incumbent Lisa Jacobson, who bagged 7,547 votes. His earlier run in 2010 also ended in defeat.
- April Ademiluyi (Lost)
A lawyer with the Democratic Party ticket for Judge of the Circuit Court for Prince George’s County, April came 6th in a highly contested election: she polled 152,016 votes against winner Gladys Weatherspoon who had 220,989 votes. Other 4 contestants polled between 159,134 and 211, 859 votes.
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