By Akinwale Kasali
Two Nigerian-born Americans have won Congress seats at on-going US Elections. Democrat, Oye Owolewa was elected into the House of Representatives to represent the District of Colombia.
Owolewa, who hails from Omu-Aran Local Government Area of Kwara State, was declared the winner of the shadow election in the District of Columbia (DC).
During elections, voters of the District of Columbia elect a shadow representative who is recognised as equivalent to US representatives by the District of Columbia, but the US government does not recognise the individual as an actual member of the House of Representatives.
Owolewa scored a total of 164,026 votes, which represents 82.84% of the total votes cast.
A PhD holder from the Northeastern University, Boston, Owolewa is the first Nigerian-American to be elected to US congress.
Owolewa took to Instagram to express gratitude to his friends, family, and D.C. residents, for their support, restating his commitment to fighting for statehood for the district.
“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 day for some celebration, the hard work also follows. Again, thanks so much for everything. I wouldn’t be here without you all,” he wrote.
Also, Esther Agbaje became the first Nigerian American in the Minnesota Legislature after winning at the polls.
Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) has rejoiced with the two.
In a congratulatory message conveyed to the media by Abdur Rahman Balogun, the Head, Media and Public Relation Units of NIDCOM in Abuja, Dabiri-Erewa said that more Nigerians are showing their interest in impacting good governance in their countries of residence.
She said the election of Agbaje and Owolewa to the Minnesota House of Representatives and Columbia is a testimony that Nigerians are capable of being trusted with position of authority.
Agbaje, 35, contested to represent District 59B in the Minnesota House of Representatives on the platform of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party, an affiliate of the US Democratic Party.
Agbaje’s victory makes her the first Nigerian-American in the Minnesota legislature.
It is expected that more Nigerians will win their polls in the ongoing national elections in US.
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