At least eight politicians of Nigerian descent won their legislative seats on Tuesday night during the Georgia, Pennsylvania, and Minnesota state elections in the United States of America.
This was made known in a tweet by the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission Chairman, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, via her verified Twitter handle, on Wednesday morning.
“These Nigerian Americans won their elections in Georgia last night. A hearty congrats to them all #ProudlyNigerian. Congratulations to Segun Adeyina, Gabe Okoye, Solomon Adesanya, Tish Naghise, Phil Olaleye, Carol Kazeem, Oye Owolewa, and Esther Agbaje,” the NiDCOM boss tweeted.
Celebrating his victory, Owolewa, who reportedly hails from Omuaran, said in an Instagram post, partly, “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 a statement signed by his special adviser on media and publicity, Femi Adesina, the president was quoted as having prayed for a successful tenure for the Nigerians.
It read in part, “President Muhammadu Buhari extends his warmest congratulations to eight Nigerian-Americans on their victory in the U.S. midterm elections. In Georgia State, Segun Adeyina, Gabe Okoye, Solomon Adesanya, Tish Naghise, and Phil Olaleye won their legislative seats as State Representatives in their districts.
“Likewise, Carol Kazeem was re-elected as Pennsylvania State Representative in District 159, Esther Agbaje was re-elected as Minnesota State Representative in District 59B, and Dr. Oye Owolewa was re-elected to the United States House of Representatives (Shadow Representative) in Washington, D.C.”
Notably, a Pennsylvania state representative who died in October, Anthony DeLuca, was reelected during the United States midterm elections.
