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Four British-Nigerians Who Won UK Parliament Seats

Published

1 year ago

July 6, 2024

The British citizens on Thursday, July 4, 2024, trooped out to the polling units to elect members of parliament that will form a new government.

In the election, the Labour Party won overwhelmingly to secure 412 seats out of 650 to end the 14-year rule of the Conservatives.

Consequently, the Labour leader, Keir Starmer has been officially appointed as the British Prime Minister, after Rishi Sunak conceded defeat and resigned as Tory leader.

Four prominent British-Nigerians were victorious at the polls.

Kemi Badenoch returns as Tory MP despite Conservatives’ ouster

Renowned British-Nigerian in the United Kingdom Parliament, Kemi Badenoch, won her seat in North West Essex in the July 4 Parliamentary elections.

Badenoch was re-elected as a Conservative Party member of Parliament despite a landslide loss of the Tories to the Labour Party.

She won with 19,360 votes defeating her main challenger, Labour’s Issy Waiter, who garnered 16,750 votes.

Speaking shortly after her victory at the polls, 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.

Badenoch 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.

She got married to Hamish Badenoch in 2012 and is blessed with three children.

Businessman Bayo Alaba wins Newcastle for Labour Party

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 with 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.

Commenting 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,” he added.

Former Shadow Minister, Taiwo Owatemi who staged comeback

A former Member of Parliament of Nigerian descent, Taiwo Owatemi, also won the UK Parliament election in Coventry North West for the Labour Party.

Owatemi polled 19,696 votes to defeat her main rival, Tom Mercer from the Tories, 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 got 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.

Chi Onwurah continues winning streak

Chi Onwurah has been re-elected as an MP to represent Newcastle upon Tyne Central and West for the Labour Party in the UK Parliament election.

Onwurah came victorious with 18,875 votes on July 4 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 born in Wallsend, who was first elected into the UK Parliament in 2010, defeated her closest opponent Ashton Muncaster of the Reform Party who had 7,815 votes.

She attended Kenton School, Newcastle and got a degree in Electrical Engineering from Imperial College London.

In her remarks after the secured 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!”
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Israel-Palestine Conflict: Nigeria, 141 Countries Endorse Two-State Solution

Published

20 minutes ago

September 13, 2025

Editor

Nigeria on Friday joined 141 other countries to endorse New York Declaration on two-State solution between Israel and Palestine at the UN headquarters in New York.

Applause rang out in the UN General Assembly Hall as countries endorsed the declaration on the peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine and implementation of the two-State solution with Israel.

The New York Declaration is the outcome of an international conference held in July at UN Headquarters, organised by France and Saudi Arabia, which resumes later this month.

The General Assembly comprises all 193 UN Member States and 142 countries voted in favour of a resolution backing the document.

Israel voted against it, alongside nine other countries: Argentina, Hungary, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Tonga and the United States, while 12 nations abstained.

Prior to the vote, French Ambassador Jérôme Bonnafont recalled that the New York Declaration “lays out a single roadmap to deliver the two-State solution”.

This involves an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, release of all hostages held there, and the establishment of a Palestinian State that is both viable and sovereign.

The roadmap further calls for the disarmament of Hamas and its exclusion from governance in Gaza, normalisation between Israel and the Arab countries, as well as collective security guarantees.

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I Won’t Allow His Movement To Die, Charlie Kirk’s Widow Vows

Published

1 hour ago

September 13, 2025

Editor

Erika Kirk, widow of prominent right-wing activist Charlie Kirk, has vowed to continue her husband’s work after US authorities confirmed the arrest of his alleged assassin.

A grieving Erika, in a live video on Friday, paid tribute to her late husband, describing him as “the perfect father…the perfect husband.”

“The evil-doers responsible for my husband’s assassination have no idea what they have done.

“The movement my husband built will not die. It won’t. I refuse to let that happen,” she added.

Tribune Online reports that the suspected killer of Kirk has been identified as 22-year-old Tyler Robinson.

Earlier, US President Donald Trump confirmed that a suspect had been arrested after a massive manhunt.

“Somebody very close to him turned him in,” Trump told Fox News in a live studio interview.

“The person was involved with law enforcement, but was a person of faith, a minister, and brought him to a US Marshal who was fantastic.

“They drove into the police headquarters, and he’s there now.”

He added: “We have the person that we think is the person we’re looking for.”

Kirk, 31, who was known for rallying youth support for Trump, was shot dead on Wednesday during an appearance at a Utah university.

Headline

California Lawmakers Approve Ban On Face Masks For Authorities

Published

1 hour ago

September 13, 2025

Editor

California lawmakers in the United States have approved a bill that would prevent most law enforcement officers from covering their faces while on duty.

According to ABC News, the measure follows a series of immigration raids in Los Angeles.

This is the first bill of its kind to pass a state legislature, though similar proposals have been introduced in Congress and in states such as Tennessee, Michigan, Illinois, New York, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania.

The California Legislature, controlled by Democrats, passed the bill on Thursday as part of a broader response to immigration enforcement actions.

If signed into law, the bill would prohibit local and federal officers, including immigration agents, from using neck gaiters, ski masks and other facial coverings while carrying out official duties. Exceptions include undercover work, protective medical masks and tactical gear.

Gov. Gavin Newsom of California has about a month to decide whether to sign it. He has criticised the use of masks by federal agents but in July questioned whether the state has the authority to regulate them. His office said Friday it does not usually comment on pending bills.

According to supporters, the legislation is needed, especially after the Supreme Court this week allowed the federal government to continue large-scale immigration operations in Los Angeles.

Assemblymember Juan Carrillo, vice chair of the Latino caucus, said the ruling is “effectively allowing federal agents stop suspects based solely on their race, language, or job.”

“How is anyone supposed to reasonably believe that they are law enforcement officers and not masked individuals trying to kidnap you?” he said before the vote. “Imagine the absolute fear of being pulled over at gunpoint by a group of masked individuals.”

Backers also cited constitutional law expert Erwin Chemerinsky of the University of California, Berkeley, who argued that federal employees must still follow state laws unless doing so prevents them from performing their duties. “ICE agents have never before worn masks when apprehending people, and that never has posed a problem. Nor have other officers of local, state and federal law enforcement faced dangers from the public because they don’t wear masks in the streets,” he wrote in an opinion piece for the Sacramento Bee.

Republicans and law enforcement groups strongly opposed the bill, saying it puts officers at risk.

“Bad guys wear masks because they don’t want to get caught. Good guys wear masks because they don’t want to get killed,” said Republican state Sen. Kelly Seyarto on Thursday.

The use of masks by immigration agents has deepened the divide between those who oppose Trump-era enforcement policies and those who support them.

Trump administration officials defended the practice, saying agents have faced growing harassment in public and online. They argue covering their faces helps protect officers and their families. Democrats and several state attorneys general counter that the masks cause public fear and should be banned.