Nine Nigerians contesting American elections on Tuesday

Nine Nigerian Americans are to participate on the Tuesday general election in United States of America (USA), and they are contesting for different positions at the federal, state and local levels.

Penpushing reports that ahead of the poll their names already on the ballot, while number of them are running under  the platform of the Democratic Party, and one of them contesting for a ‘shadow’ (non-voting) seat in the House of Representatives is Oye Owolewa, whose father is from Kwara and mother from Oyo

The profile of Owolewa has it that he holds a Ph.D in Pharmacy from the North-Eastern University, Boston, and is seeking to represent the District of Columbia (DC) under the Democratic Party.

Penpushing further reports that,  the 30 year candidate if elected has agenda in fighting income inequality in the United States of America (USA), and would be the first Nigerian congressman in the country’s history.

The next Nigerian contesting as independent candidate to represent the state of Tennessee in the America Senate is, Dr Yomi Faparusi, a native of Ibadan, who was born native of Ode-Ekiti in Ekiti State.

Penpushing also reports that the Doctorate Degree holder 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 is not a green horn in the contest.

The profile showed that in 2014 and 2016, he contested for the Republican Party’s ticket to the House of Representatives, but lost in both occasions, while his priorities to contest Tuesday poll include being a positive voice for all Nigerians in the America. Senate and inspiring Americans of African or Nigerian descent to seek public office in the country.

Penpushing reports that, Yinka Faleti from Lagos is the Democratic Party flagbearer in the election for the office of Secretary of State, in Missouri, a Republican controlled State, while his profile stated that he was in the America Army as an active-duty officer from 1998 to 2004.

The profile added that, Faleti holds a Bachelor’s degree from the United States Military Academy, West Point, and a Juris Doctorate from the Washington University School of Law served in Kuwait, first under Operation Desert Spring and later as part of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Penpushing further reports that, the 44 year old desire as a Secretary of State includes protection of the “right to vote for Missouri families”, and ensuring elected officials hear the people’s voice.

The other candidate is Paul Akinjo from Ondo and is contesting under the platform Democratic Party to represent District 12, eyeing the state seat  to the California State Assembly, while his records showed that he  once served as Vice Mayor of Lathrop, California, and in the America Army Reserve from 1982 to 1989, while his priorities include housing, immigration and transportation.

Penpushing also reports that, Adewunmi Kuforiji from Ibadan had earlier secured the Democratic Party’s ticket on September 15 after defeating his challenger, Robert Haynes, at the primary, and now eyeing seat to represent District 34 in the state House of Representatives in Delaware, a small Mid-. Atlantic in an American State.

The candidate holds a Bachelor in Accounting and a Masters in Business Administration from the Delaware State University, and in the 2018 mid-term elections, he contested for the same position but lost to the incumbent, Lyndon Yearick, of the Republican Party, whom he is facing on Tuesday.

Penpushing reports that, Esther Agbaje is contesting to represent District 59B in the Minnesota House of Representatives on the platform of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFLP), an affiliate of the American Democratic Party.

The 35-year-old daughter of an Episcopal priest and a librarian, both Nigerian immigrants, defeated longtime state Representative Raymond Dehn in the party’s primary in August and one of four progressive greenhorns who defeated established Democratic legislators in the primary.

Penpushing further reports that Agbaje obtained a law degree from Harvard University, a Master’s from the University of Pennsylvania, and has served in the American Department of State, among others.

The other candidate is a 39 year old April Ademiluyi, who is running on the Democratic Party’s ticket for Judge of the Seventh Circuit Court in Prince George’s County, Maryland, and Ngozi Akubuike, a legal practitioner, who is an independent candidate for judge of the Minnesota 2nd District Court Position 8.

Penpushing reports that Akubuike read law in Nigeria, thereafter worked in the banking sector before moving to the America where she graduated from the Mitchell Hamline School of Law, and has served in several capacities, including legal manager for the state of Minnesota.

The next Nigerian candidate is Benjamin Osemenam, who travelled  to America in 1982, is an Engineer with the Minnesota Department of Transportation and contesting under the platform of National Party for a seat in the Brooklyn Park City Council of Minnesota to represent East District, while he is a former President of the Association of Nigerian Engineers in Minnesota.