In a historic outcome, eight politicians of Nigerian descent have been elected to the United Kingdom’s House of Commons following the results of the July 4 general election.
This marks the highest number of British-Nigerians to serve in the UK parliament.
Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer has become the new Prime Minister, bringing an end to the 14-year reign of the Conservative Party. The election also produced the most diverse parliament in UK history, with a significant increase in the number of ethnic minority MPs.
Approximately 30 Nigerians ran for parliamentary seats, with eight successfully elected. Among them, six are returning MPs who served in the previous session.
Re-elected Conservative MPs include Kemi Badenoch (North West Essex) and Helen Grant (Maidstone). Badenoch, a key contender in the Conservative leadership race following Rishi Sunak’s resignation, emphasized the need for her party to regroup and reconnect with voters.
From the Labour Party, re-elected MPs are Florence Dauta Eshalomi, Kate Osamor (Edmonton and Winchmore Hill), Chi Onwurah (Newcastle upon Tyne Central), and Taiwo Owatemi (Coventry North West).
Notably, Bim Afolabi, the Conservative candidate for Hitchin and Harpenden and Economic Secretary to the Treasury, lost his re-election bid to Labour’s Alistair Strathern after seven years in Parliament.
Newly elected British-Nigerians include Bayo Alaba, who won Southend East and Rochford for Labour, and Josh Babarinde of the Liberal Democrats, who secured a seat in Eastbourne.
Alaba, a businessman-turned-politician and current councillor for the London Borough of Redbridge, expressed his gratitude and commitment to his constituents after his win. Similarly, Babarinde celebrated his victory as a significant milestone for his community.
With the resignation of Rishi Sunak as Conservative Party leader, discussions have begun about his potential successors. Candidates like Kemi Badenoch and Priti Patel are seen as strong contenders from the party’s right wing, while centrist figures such as Jeremy Hunt and Tom Tugendhat are also in the running.
Former Home Secretary Suella Braverman has already signaled her intention to vie for the leadership, using her victory speech to kickstart her campaign.
