Eight United Kingdom politicians of Nigerian origin have been elected into the House of Commons following the announcement of results from the July 4 general election.
Leader of the Labour Party, Sir Keir Starmer, has become the Prime Minister of the UK following his party’s remarkable victory, ending the 14-year rule of the Conservative Party.
Notably, Thursday’s election delivered the most diverse parliament in the country’s history, with a notable increase in the number of members of parliament of ethnic minorities. About 30 Nigerians participated as candidates in the poll, representing their various constituencies.
Out of the eight elected, six are returning members of parliament, having served in the last session of the House.
Those who won re-election are the Conservative duo of Kemi Badenoch (North West Essex), Helen Grant (Maidstone).
Despite her victory at the poll, Badenoch, who is a frontline contender in the Tories leadership contest after the resignation of former PM Rishi Sunak, said her party must regroup and win the confidence of the people back, according to TheNation.
Four of those re-elected are from the Labour Party, namely Florence Dauta Eshalomi, Kate Osamor (Edmonton and Winchmore Hill), Chi Onwurah (Newcastle upon Tyne Central) and Taiwo Owatemi (Coventry North West).
However, Bim Afolabi, the Conservative candidate for Hitchin and Harpenden and Economic Secretary to the Treasury, lost his re-election bid after seven years in the Parliament to Labour’s Alistair Strathern.
Two Nigerians making their first entry to Westminster are businessman-turned-politician, Bayo Alaba, who won Southend East and Rochford for Labour by a comfortable margin. The former Parachute Regiment member got 15,395 votes against Conservative candidate Gavin Haran’s 11,368 votes.
Similarly, Josh Babarinde of Liberal Democrats was declared the new member of parliament for Eastbourne after receiving 23,742 votes, a majority of 12,204. Speaking after his election, Babarinde said: “Eastbourne has voted for a fresh start and it says a lot about our town that a lad from Hampden Park who looks and loves like me can stand to be Eastbourne’s member of parliament and win, win with the biggest majority here in a generation.”
With Rishi Sunak stepping down as Conservative Party leader following his party’s drubbing in the General Election, talk has already turned to who could replace him. The former Prime Minister today announced he will stay in his place until his successor is appointed later this year.
President Bola Tinubu yesterday congratulated the leader of the Labour Party in the United Kingdom, Sir Keir Starmer, on his party’s victory in the country’s general election. In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, President Tinubu praised Starmer’s determination and courage throughout his time in opposition and as Labour leader, noting that the party’s ability to reform and position itself for victory after 14 years demonstrates Starmer’s strong leadership qualities.
