Meet 9 Nigerians running in U.S. elections

No fewer than nine Nigerian Americans are on the ballot in Tuesday’s general elections in the United States, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.

At the federal level, 30-year-old Oye Owolewa, whose father is from Kwara and mother from Oyo, is aiming for a ‘shadow’ (non-voting) seat in the House of Representatives.

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Oye Owolewa

Owolewa, a Ph.D holder in Pharmacy from Northeastern University, Boston, is seeking to represent the District of Columbia under the Democratic Party.

If elected, Owolewa, whose agenda include fighting income inequality in the U.S., would be the first Nigerian congressman in the country’s history.

Yomi Faparusi

Also at the federal level, Mr. Yomi Faparusi, an Ibadan-born native of Ode-Ekiti in Ekiti State, is vying as an independent candidate to represent the state of Tennessee in the U.S. Senate.

Faparusi holds a doctorate in Medicine from the University of Ibadan, a Ph.D. in Health from Johns Hopkins University, and Juris Doctorate from the Widener University School of Law, Delaware.

Faparusi’s priorities include being a positive voice for all Nigerians in the U.S. Senate and inspiring Americans of African or Nigerian descent to seek public office in the country.

Yinka Faleti

In Missouri, a Republican-controlled state, Mr. Yinka Faleti from Lagos is the Democratic Party flag bearer in the election for the office of Secretary of State.

He holds a Bachelor’s degree from the United States Military Academy, West Point, and a Juris Doctorate from the Washington University School of Law.

His goals as a Secretary of State include protection of the “right to vote for Missouri families”, and ensuring elected officials hear the people’s voice.

Paul Akinjo

Also at the state level, Mr. Paul Akinjo from Ondo is running for election to the California State Assembly under the Democratic Party to represent District 12.

His priorities include housing, immigration and transportation.

Adewunmi Kuforiji

In Delaware, a small Mid-Atlantic U.S. state, Adewunmi Kuforiji is aspiring to represent District 34 in the state House of Representatives.

Kuforiji, originally from Ibadan, Oyo, holds a Bachelor in Accounting and a Master’s in Business Administration from the Delaware State University.

Esther Agbaje

Also at the state level, Ms. Esther Agbaje is seeking to represent District 59B in the Minnesota House of Representatives on the platform of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labour Party, an affiliate of the U.S. Democratic Party.

Agbaje has a law degree from Harvard University, a Master’s from the University of Pennsylvania, and has served in the U.S. Department of State, among others.

On the ballot at the local government level are April Ademiluyi, Ngozi Akubuike and Benjamin Osemenam.(NAN)