British citizens trooped out on Thursday to elect members of parliament that will form a new government.
In the election, the Labour Party won in a landslide securing 412 seats out of 650, which ended the 14-year rule of the Conservatives.
Four British-Nigerians were victorious in the election. They are:
- Kemi Bardenoch
Renowned British-Nigerian in the United Kingdom Parliament, Kemi Badenoch, won her seat in North West Essex.
Badenoch was re-elected as a Conservative Party member of parliament despite a landslide loss of the Tories to the Labour Party.
She polled 19,360 votes to defeat her main challenger, Labour’s Issy Waiter, who garnered 16,750 votes.
Speaking shortly after her victory, Badenoch said: “Many of my friends and colleagues have lost their seats. They have served their country with distinction. Their service will never be in vain. But the public have spoken and they have said loud and clear that the Conservatives have lost their trust.”
Born on January 2, 1980, Badenoch served as Britain’s Secretary of State for Business and Trade from 2023 to 2024. She also served as the President of the Board of Trade and Minister for Women and Equalities from 2022 to 2024.
Resilient, bold and diligent, Badenoch was tipped to succeed the immediate past UK Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, as she showed interest after Liz Truss resigned in October 2022.
The 44-year-old British politician has been in the UK Parliament representing Saffron Walden as an MP from 2017.
She studied Computer Systems Engineering at the University of Sussex and got a Master’s degree in 2003. She also studied Law at Birkbeck, University of London.
2. Bayo Alaba
British-Nigerian businessman, Bayo Alaba, won the Southend East and Rochford for Labour Party.
Alaba won with 15,395 votes against the Conservative Party’s candidate, Gavin Haran, who polled 11,368 votes.
Widely known as a successful former Parachute Regiment soldier and youth mentor, Alaba is currently serving as the first black councillor for the London Borough of Redbridge.
Born and raised in Forest Gate, East London, Alaba is a Board Trustee for Phoenix Resource Centre, a sustainable charity with operations in the UK and abroad.
Speaking on his victory, Alaba said: “The people of Southend East Rochford have put their trust in our changed Labour Party. Now is the time to deliver.
“This will be the greatest thing of my life. I will work every day to repay the trust you put in me.”
3. Taiwo Owatemi
A former Member of Parliament of Nigerian descent, Taiwo Owatemi, won Thursday’s election in Coventry North West for the Labour Party.
Owatemi polled 19,696 votes to defeat her main rival, Tom Mercer of the Conservative Party, who secured 8,522 votes.
She served as the Shadow Minister for Women and Equalities from September 2021 to September 2022.
Born on July 22, 1992, Owatemi, who grew up in Plumstead, was first elected into the UK Parliament in 2019.
The 31-year-old politician had a Master’s degree in Pharmacy from the University of Kent. She worked at a cancer unit in Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust before venturing into politics.
Owatemi was a member of Labour Friends of Israel and part of the delegation that travelled to the country in February 2023.
After her victory in the election, Owatemi, who was a spokesperson for the Medical Research Council, said: “Words cannot express my gratitude to the people of Coventry North West. Your trust in me, in our shared vision, for a brighter future, is truly humbling.”
“It is the honour of my life to represent you and I will continue to work tirelessly to ensure your voices are represented,” she added.
4. Chi Onwurah
Chi Onwurah was re-elected as an MP to represent Newcastle upon Tyne Central and West for the Labour Party in the UK Parliament.
Onwurah polled 18,875 votes as the Labour Party recorded a landslide win that unseated the Tories.
Before the election, Onwurah, born on April 12, 1965, was the Shadow Minister for Industrial Strategy.
The 59-year-old was born in Wallsend, and was first elected into the UK parliament in 2010. She defeated her closest opponent, Ashton Muncaster, of the Reform Party, who had 7,815 votes.
Onwurah attended Kenton School, Newcastle, and got a degree in Electrical Engineering from Imperial College, London.
Speaking after his victory, Onwurah said: “Thank you from the Labour team to everyone in Newcastle Central and West for putting your confidence in Labour and electing me as your Member of Parliament. We will not let you down!”