UK Parliamentary Election: 7 Nigerians Elected Into Offices

The candidates of Nigerian heritage who won the UK Parliamentary election held on Thursday, June 8, include Chi Onwurah, Chuka Umunna, Kemi Badenoch, Fiona Onasanya, Kate Osamor, Helen Grant and Saffron Walden.
They were elected into positions as follows:

1. Chuka Umunna (38 years) represents Streatham. 

The British-born has been a Member of Parliament for Streatham since 2010 and was Shadow Business Secretary from 2011 to 2015. Umunna polled a massive 38,000 plus vote trouncing his nearest rival the Conservative candidate Kim Caddy, who polled 11,297. 
He expressed his delight to see that more young people were engaging with politics and said he was humbled and privileged to be serving his constituent for the third time.

2. Chinyelu "Chi" Owurah (52) represents Newcastle

She has been a British Labour Party politician elected as the Member of Parliament for Newcastle upon Tyne Central since the 2010 general election - as the first black MP. Owurah won 24,071 votes, comfortably beating the Tory candidate Steve Kyte who had 9,134 votes. She is the current Shadow Minister for Business, Innovation and Skills, as well as Shadow Minister for Culture, Media and Sport.

3. Kemi Olufunto Badenoch (37) represents Saffron Walden

Kemi Badenoch became Saffron Walden’s first-ever female MP as she secured a near 25,000 majority in the 2017 UK Parliamentary election. The Wimbledon-born is achieved 37,629 votes ahead of nearest challenger Jane Berney (Labour) with 12,663 votes. Mrs Badenoch expressed her delight at her new position quote:

“I wasn’t expecting the majority, but I worked hard for it. I got out there, met people and earned every single vote, and I will make those people proud.”

4.  Fiona Onasanya represents Peterborough

Fiona Onasanya from the Labour party won the Peterborough seat from Conservative rival Stewart Jackson who has been the MP for Peterborough for 12 years.  She is a solicitor at DC Law, a Labour Cambridgeshire County Councillor for King’s Hedges and deputy leader for the County group.

Onasanya's was described as short and sweet and she said:

"I'm so grateful for you choosing to make a voice for change. You’ve made your choice, now let’s make the change."

5.  Kate Ofunne (48) Osamor represents Edmonton

She has been the Member of Parliament for Edmonton since May 2015 and was appointed Shadow Secretary of State for International Development in June 2016.

6. Bim Afolami represents Hitchin and Harpenden

Bim Afolami was elected as a Conservative Member in the UK Parliamentary election to represent Hitchin and Harpenden constituency. He polled 31,189 votes - higher than that of his Labour Party opponent, John Hayes' total of 19,158 votes.

Afolami expressed his delight and pledged to focus on local issues as well as become a strong voice in Parliament.

7. Helen Grant (55) represents Maidstone and The Weald

Grant was re-elected t continue representing Maidstone and The Weald at the UK Parliamentary election 2017. She has served as the first black woman in the Conservative Parliament for the constituency since 2010 when she succeeded Ann Widdecombe. 

A UK-based Human Capital Development Strategist, Dayo Olomu congratulated the winners in a Facebook post on Friday.