Nigerian-American politicians who won seats in U.S. midterm elections

Americans voted on Tuesday in the U.S. midterm elections, delivering a stunning victory to Democratic candidates.

Among the winners were Nigerian candidates who secured seats in their respective state legislatures, earning voters’ support across different constituencies.

Some of them included Olaleye Onikuyide, Ukeme Awakessien Jeter, Odus Evbagharu, Segun Adeyina and Phil Olaleye. Their victories span Connecticut, Ohio, Texas and Georgia.

Olaleye Onikuyide

Olaleye Onikuyide, 28, a political neophyte, contested under the Democratic Party to represent District 19 in the Connecticut House of Representatives and won.

Ukeme Awakessien Jeter

Ukeme Awakessien Jeter, a Democrat, was elected to Ohio House of Representatives, District 7, Franklin County of the Ohio State House.

Ms Jeter, 45, is currently the mayor and council president of Upper Arlington, Ohio. She relocated to the U.S. from Nigeria at 18.

Odus Evbagharu

Odus Evbagharu, 34, was elected to the Texas House where he will represent District 135.

Having secured 68 per cent votes against Republican Amanda Labrie, Mr Evbagharu will succeed Jon Rosenthal in January 2027.

Segun Adeyina

Segun Adeyina, a Nigerian-born Democratic candidate, was re-elected for a third term to represent District 110 in the Georgia House of Representatives.

Born and raised in Nigeria, Mr Adeyina completed his secondary education at the Federal Government College, Ilorin, Kwara State before proceeding to the University of Lagos, where he obtained a bachelor’s degree in physics. He later attended at the University of Akron in 1994, earning a bachelor’s degree in engineering, and obtained a master’s degree in management information systems from the Lawrence Technological University in 1999.

Phil Olaleye

Democratic representative Phil Olaleye shellacked Republican candidate Devanta Sullivan on Tuesday to secure a third term in the Georgia House of Representatives. First elected to the House in 2022, Mr Olaleye secured 18,157 votes against Mr Sullivan’s 874.

“We want healthcare we can afford,” Mr Olaleye said, adding that Georgia residents needed housing that’s safe and within reach.

“We want a Georgia where every family has a fair shot and every child has the opportunity to succeed,” he wrote in a social media post announcing his victory.

The Peoples Gazette reported earlier that other Nigerian-American politicians who triumphed in the U.S. November 3 midterm elections, include Will Jawando, Junior Ezeonu, Oye Owolewa and Carol Kazeem.

The U.S. midterm elections, held halfway through a President’s four-year term, determine the composition of Congress, state legislatures and several local government positions. The victories of the Nigerian candidates reflect their growing involvement in the country’s political and public service landscape.