Nigerian man makes history becomes first Black councillor in Germany

Dr. John Emeka Akude, a Nigerian political scientist has made history after been the first black man to be elected member of Cologne’s City Council in Germany.

This makes him the first Councillor of African origin in Cologne, Germany’s 4th biggest city with about 1 million inhabitants.

On Sunday 13 September, millions of voters went to the polls in towns and cities across North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany’s most populous state, to vote for Lord Mayors, Mayors, Councillors and the Integration Councils.

Many candidates of African origin participated in the elections. Results are now coming in. Dr John Emeka Akude, a Nigerian-born political scientist, was elected member of the Cologne City Council (Stadtrat).

Reacting to Akude’s victory, Rahab Njeri, the only other African-origin candidate who took part in the election in Cologne said though she was not elected all African-descendant inhabitants of the city were winners with the victory of the Nigerian-born politician. Both ran on the platform of Klima Freunde (Friends of the Climate).

Other results that have been released show that several African candidates won elections into the Integration Council (Integrationsrat) in their cities and towns, including Kevin Uguru in Essen, Pastor Lumbu in Dortmund and Elizabeth Kaneza in Aachen.