Five Nigerian-Americans elected in US elections
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Business Day Nigeria
Five candidates of Nigerian origin won local or state elections in the United States in the 3 November midterm elections. The victories include Montgomery County government, state assemblies and the Council of the District of Columbia, while Segun Adeyina’s re-election remained undecided, according to Business Day Nigeria.
Five politicians of Nigerian descent won local or legislative elections in the United States in the 3 November midterm elections, according to Business Day Nigeria. Those elected are Will Jawando, Junior Ezeonu, Oye Owolewa, Carol Kazeem and Gabe Okoye; a sixth candidacy, that of Democrat Segun Adeyina in Georgia, remained undecided during the count.
In Maryland, Will Jawando won about 78% of the vote against 22% for Republican Esther Wells to become the next leader of Montgomery County. He will succeed Marc Elrich, who is leaving office after reaching the term limit, according to results reported by the Associated Press and cited by Business Day Nigeria. Jawando previously served on the county council and focused his campaign on public education, affordable housing and economic opportunities.
In Texas, 27-year-old Junior Ezeonu won the District 101 seat in the state House of Representatives. Born in Onitsha, Anambra State, he was elected to the Grand Prairie city council in 2021 and later became the city’s youngest interim mayor. He supports, among other things, raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour, increased funding for public schools and more affordable access to home ownership.
In Washington, Oye Owolewa won a seat on the Council of the District of Columbia. The pharmacist, the son of Nigerian immigrants from Kwara and Osun states, had previously been the district’s elected non-voting representative to Congress, according to Business Day Nigeria. This announcement completes the results already published on 4 November about four Nigerian-Americans elected and 14 Nigerian-Americans who won.
