Four British politicians of Nigerian parentage are among those eyeing parliamentary seats as Britain goes to the polls to elect their next Prime Minister and Members of Parliament , MPs, on Thursday . Out of these, one , 46-year old trade union activist , Kate Osamor , is making her debut on the national stage.
Three, including Osamor are flying the opposition Labour Party ‘s flag. The fourth, Helen Grant , is a current Conservative Member of Parliament ( MP ) seeking to retain her seat.
Although there are at least two others of Nigerian descent seeking parliamentary seats on the platform of smaller parties like the Green Party, it is believed that they do not have any realistic chances of making it to Westminster .
“Some are just running for the sake of it,” one politician of Nigerian parentage said .
Meanwhile, former Mayor of Lambeth Council, Councillor Ade Aminu, spoke exclusively to The Guardian about Thursday’s elections, tipping his Labour Party to win and take over at No 10 Downing Street , from Friday .
“Labour will win the elections ,” he said, when asked for his views on Wednesday .
On Osamor, he said: “It is a safe Labour seat, so she should have no problems wining it.”
He also predicted victories for the duo of Labour’s Chi Onwurah and Shadow Business Secretary, Chuka Umunna , incumbent MPs for Newcastle and Streatham (South East London) respectively . Though Grant is from the party Aminu’s Labour hopes to defeat at the polls, the former Mayor said she too should retain her seat and make her way back to the Commons.
Of the four, trade union activist, Osamor , a practice manager at a doctor’s surgery in North London is perhaps the one with the most interesting political lineage and one to watch out for, should she make it to the Commons.
Apart from having a mother – Martha Osamor – who herself is a staunch Labour and community activist , her selection to vie for the Edmonton seat looks like a compensation and victory for the family.
Reason is that her mother was to be the Labour candidate for Vauxhall in the 1980s, until she was vetoed out by an influential Labour leader.
The seat her mother was prevented from contesting for has remained in the hands of Labour ever since, and is currently occupied by Kate Hoey,.
Meanwhile, two newspapers, the London Evening Standard and City A.M have thrown their weight behind the ruling Conservative Party. (The Guardian).