Nigerians in 2020 US elections: The scorecards

AT least nine Americans of Nigerian descent vied for different posts in the just concluded US elections. Naija Times can report that seven of the nine candidates lost while two won.

OYE OWOLEWA (WON)

OYE Owolewa 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% against Joyce Robinson-Paul and Sohaer Syed. Owolewa’s  82.5% represents 164,026 votes, while Robinson-Paul and Syed scored 18600 and 15372 votes respectively.

Owolewa will serve as a “shadow” House of Representatives member. A shadow member is recognised 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 state, and a shadow member pushes for that and also fights for citizens in other ways.

Owolewa, whose father is from Kwara State and mother from Oyo, was elected on the platform of the Democratic Party in the election, holds a PhD in Pharmacy from the Northeastern University, Boston.

The campaign website of the 30-year-old reads, “In 2018, he was elected commissioner of his neighbourhood in SouthEast DC. Oye has been an advocate for DC statehood, leading to his run to be your next representative.

“He launched TaxFreeDC as a movement to combat DC’s taxation without representation. TaxFreeDC declares that until DC statehood is achieved, DC’s tax revenue shall no longer go to the federal government. Oye believes our money belongs here for DC priorities instead of going to a government that fails to recognise us.”

In an Instagram post on Wednesday, Owolewa wrote, “Good morning. Looks like we did it!

“I want to thank everyone, from family and close friends to DC residents.

“Because of your contributions and sacrifices, I stand before you as America’s first Nigerian-American congressman.

“In this role, I’m going to fight for DC statehood and bring our values to the lawmaking process. While today is the day for some celebration, the hard work also follows.

“Again, thanks so much for everything. I wouldn’t be here without y’all.”

Chairman, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, congratulated Owolewa in a statement yesterday.

“This goes to show that with dedication, hard work, resilience and prayer, one can achieve just about anything,” Dabiri-Erewa said.

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ESTHER AGBAJE (WON)

AGBAJE 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.

Born to immigrant Nigerian parents, Agbaje, a Harvard-trained lawyer, also holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and a master’s in Public Administration.

 She is known for her labour rights advocacy and was recognised by Minnesota Lawyer as attorney of the year in 2019.

She was part of a legal aid team praised for defending evicted tenants and pushing for much-needed Hepatitis C medication for prisoners in her District.

Agbaje attributes her energy and work ethic to her priest-father and homeless-care-mother, whose selfless services shaped her own.

“As a child of parents whose mission was to serve others, I have followed in their footsteps throughout my life. In college, I worked to advance labor rights. In graduate school, I helped build healthy and sustainable communities. In the State Department, I managed programs advocating for civil rights,” Agbaje wrote on her website.

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YOMI FAPARUSI ( LOST)

YOMI  Faparusi, a Nigerian running as an independent for  U.S Senate to represent Tennessee, lost in his bid to be a lawmaker in the United States of America.

Faparusi, fondly called “Fapas”, was a 2014 Republican candidate who sought election to the U.S. House to represent the 4th Congressional District of Tennessee. He was defeated in the Republican primary by the incumbent Scott DesJarlais on August 4, 2016

He had run and lost twice before, before losing his third bid to become a US Senator to represent Tennessee.

Faparusi, came distant fourth behind Republican Bill Hagerty in the November 3, 2020

Hagerty defeated his closest rival Democrat Marquita Bradshaw.

With nearly 90% of votes tabulated, Hagerty had 62% of the votes to Bradshaw’s 35% while Faparusi had 0.4% of the votes cast.

Hagerty’s  62% translates to over 1.8m votes, Bradshaw’s 35% is over 1.3m votes; Faparusi 0.6% is just over 10,000 votes.

Faparusi holds a PhD in Medicine from Johns Hopkins University and is also a lawyer.

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YINKA FALETI (LOST)

…vows to ‘continue to fight’

YINKA Faleti failed in his bid to become the Missouri Secretary of State. Republican Jay Ashcroft retained his seat as the Missouri Secretary

But reacting to the outcome of the election, Faleti said he would “continue to fight” for the development of Missouri.

He said this in a series of tweets announcing the outcome of the election.

The Nigerian-American tweeted, “While the results of this election did not go the way we wanted, I am grateful for the support of so many who brought us this far.

“With your help and support, we have brought attention to the fight to have every vote counted.

“We have shone light on dark efforts to suppress voter turnout, disenfranchise communities and rob Missourians of their ability to decide their own future on their own terms. But our work is not yet over.

“Civic engagement does not end after an election. Voting is only the beginning. Those who we elect are supposed to serve the people; and, in turn, the people are meant to hold their elected officials accountable. I ask you to do that.

“As I have said since the beginning of our campaign, democracy demands participation. Our democracy is strong only if we the people exercise our power to hold our elected leaders to account.

“The future is bright for Missouri—if we make it so. I will continue that fight. My ask of you is to do the same.

“In Missouri, a Republican-controlled state, Mr Yinka Faleti from Lagos is the Democratic Party standardbearer in the election for the office of Secretary of State.

Faleti was in the U.S. Army as an active-duty officer from 1998 to 2004. He served in Kuwait, first under Operation Desert Spring and later as part Operation Enduring Freedom.

The 44-year-old father of four holds a Bachelor’s degree from the United States Military Academy, West Point, and a Juris Doctorate from the Washington University School of Law.

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ADEWUNMI KUFORIJI (LOST)

KUFORIJI vied for a seat in Delaware House of Representatives, and lost in his bid to represent the people of Delaware, District 34.

Kuforiji defeated Robert Haynes in Democratic primary for Delaware House of Representatives District 34 on September, 15  to emerge as the candidate of the Democratic Party in the November 3, U.S elections.

Kuforiji, a Democrat, had earlier lost in 2018.

He polled 1, 298 votes which was 53.8% of the total votes cast while Haynes had 1, 116 votes which amounted to 46.2% of the total votes Democratic primary.

But on Tuesday, the election proper was a two-horse race between Kurofiji and the  Republican Lydon Dean Yearick.

Yearick, who is the incumbent Delaware representative, defeated Kurofiji.

Yearick had 7,349(57.3%)  while Democrat Kurofiji with 5, 470(42.7%) votes.

Kuforiji, who was born in Ibadan in Oyo State, Nigeria, holds a Bachelor in Accounting and a Masters in Business Administration from the Delaware state University.

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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.  He lost with 42.6% poll, while his Republican rival garnered 57.4%.

Akinjo, who is from Ondo State, once served as vice mayor of Lathrop, California, and in the US army reserve from 1982 to 1989. Housing, immigration and transportation are top on his agenda.

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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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NGOZI AKUBUIKE (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.

She studied law in Nigeria, then worked in the banking sector before moving to the US where she graduated from the Mitchell Hamline School of Law. She has served in several capacities, including legal manager for the state of Minnesota.

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BENJAMIN OSEMENAM (LOST)

OSEMENAM ran on the National Party ticket to become Brooklyn Park City Council (East) representative.  He polled 5,003 to be defeated by incumbent Lisa Jacobson, who bagged 7,547 votes. His earlier run in 2010 also ended in defeat.

Osemenam, who moved to the US in 1982, is an engineer in the Minnesota department of transportation.

He is a former president of the Association of Nigerian Engineers in Minnesota.

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