A total of six Nigerians won their respective seats in the just concluded general election in the United Kingdom (UK).

The Nigerians who emerged victorious are Chi Onwurah (Newcastle Central and West), Kemi Badenoch (North West Essex), Bayo Alaba (Southend East and Rochford), Taiwo Owatemi (Coventry North West), Kate Osamor (Edmonton) and Florence Eshalomi (Vauxhall and Camberwell Green).

Onwurah, born to a Nigerian father, was re-elected as the Labour MP for Newcastle Central and West, fighting off competition from other contestants to win the majority of the votes.

She got 11,060 votes out of a total of 18,875 to emerge as the winner after which she promised not to let the British public down following the strong support they showed her.

“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,” she said.

“We will not let you down!,” the Member of Parliament representing Newcastle Central in the UK House of Commons wrote on X.

Conservative candidate, Badenoch, retained her seat in North West Essex, emerging as the winner after a tight race and despite her party’s poor performance in the general election.

She had 19,360 votes which is 35.6 per cent of the overall votes but she recorded a decrease of 26.1 per cent from her previous majority.

Badenoch has served as the MP for Saffron Walden for seven years after first winning the seat in 2017.

She held the position as Secretary of State for Business and Trade from 2023 and was President of the Board of Trade and Minister for Women and Equalities since 2022.

Another Nigerian, Alaba, helped Labour to win in Southend East and Rochford after beating Conservative candidate, Gavin Haran by more than 4,000 votes.

The former Parachute Regiment member who had 15,395 votes against Haran’s 11,368 and is currently a councillor for the London Borough of Redbridge spoke after his victory.

“My biggest thanks tonight is for every person across Southend East and Rochford who put their trust in me. Tonight, we made history and tomorrow, our work begins,” he said.

“For those who didn’t choose to vote for me in this election, be assured I will be a representative for every single one of you in the constituency by serving you as a member of Parliament.

“This will be the greatest thing of my life. I will work every day to repay the trust you put in me.

“This country is crying out for change. Tonight, the British People have given us a mandate to change this country just as Keir changed our party.

“This is a vote for a Labour Party that is focused on the primary needs of working people.

“The people of Southend East and Rochford have put their trust in our changed Labour Party. Now is the time to get on with delivering.”

One other Nigerian, Owatemi, was re-elected as MP for Coventry North West on an 11,000-strong majority.

The Labour MP did very well to retain the seat which she won only by only a majority of 208 votes in the 2019 election.

She thereafter hailed a ‘better future’ following her latest re-election, telling her constituents: “Your trust in me, in our shared vision, is truly humbling.”

Owatemi who got more than 19,696 votes in Thursday’s election, more than double that of her nearest rival, Tom Mercer of the Conservatives added: “We have waited 14 years for today, I stand before you tonight with a heart full of hope and gratitude.

“Democracy can be complex but tonight has been truly remarkable. I have been struck by something as I spoke to people on the doorstep that despite our differences, there was a common thread uniting us and that is hope.

“Hope for our country, hope for our children’s future and hope for a country that works for all of us. I have listened to your stories, the challenges you have faced and the dreams you hold. This reminds me why we are here and why we do this.

“Today I invite you to imagine a Coventry North West where every child has access to good quality education, where job opportunities are numerous and where the streets are safe.

“This vision is not just a dream, it is an achievable goal and together we can make it happen.

“There’s work to be done but I feel the energy in this room. This victory is not mine, it’s ours. Let’s carry this spirit forward. Together, we are unstoppable and can build a better future.”

Osamor of the Labour Party won in Edmonton with 20,520 votes while Eshalomi of LP also won in Vauxhall and Camberwell Green after garnering the highest votes of 21,528.