Chigozie Onyema wins primary election in New Jersey.

A youthful American based Akalite who lives in the state of New Jersey has won the primary election to represent his constituency at the state house of assembly. The Akalite who is a lawyer, community integration activist, human rights activist is simply addressed as Attorney Chigozie Onyema. He won the primaries under the ticket of Democratic Party to represent the people of West Ward City Council.

Shortly before press time last week, the American correspondents of Umuaka Times filed a report concerning the advocacy project of Attorney Chigozie Onyema. According to the report, the Uba Umuaka born attorney whose “…advocacy and organizing work seek to broaden the scope of democracy to include everyone and deepen the concept to include every relationship. He currently serves as the Senior Director for the Sustainable Cities program at PolicyLink, where he supports 25 cities across the country in their efforts to build more prosperous futures through bold climate action and by addressing racial wealth inequities. Before joining PolicyLink, Chigozie served as the Assistant Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, under Lt. Governor Sheila Y. Oliver, where he focused on economic justice and led a policy team that evaluated the impact of state and federal legislation on the department’s programs and objectives. Prior to his public service role, Chigozie fought to remove employment barriers for individuals with criminal convictions, through his work as a Staff Attorney for the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice”

One of the major slogans of Onyema is “to fight for the New Jersey that works for everyone.”

To get to the height Attorney Onyema has got is what a Nelson Mandela would describe as Long Walk to Freedom. Onyema has spent years of preparations climbing the ropes of success especially under academic and political strata. He has an intimidating CV of leadership trainings which took him to many institutions of learning and capacity buildings: He has been a co-chair of Newart West Ward Democratic Committee, board member MEND Hunger Relief Network, steering Committee member Ivy Hill Neighbourhood Association, Senior Director, PolicyLink, former Assistant Commissioner, New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, former Staff Attorney, New Jersey for Social Justice. Others include member, Governor Phil Murphy’s transition team, 40 Under 40 National Bar Association. AS Peter Obi would always say, the list can go on and on; 40 Under 40 NYU Law Alumni of Colour Association and Alumni Award recipient, NYU Black Allied Law Students Association.

Attorney Chigozie Onyema set for global fame.

Attorney Chigozie Onyema whose oratory prowess echoes like the oratory dynamics of the late Dr Martin Luther King Jr is a graduate of NYU School of Law, a graduate of Howard University, a graduate of Essex County College and a graduate of Columbia High School.

Quoting from the same document, “Attorney Chigozie Onyema was born to working class parents in Newark, NJ. He spent his early years in the former Hill Manor Apartments, an affordable housing complex, before moving to the Hilton Neighborhood in Maplewood, during his formative years. Today, he is a proud homeowner in the West Ward of Newark, just steps away from where his parents first shared an apartment, started a family, and established their love for the community.

Chigozie developed his commitment to justice and equity from his experiences in New Jersey public schools. At 18 years old, just after graduating from Columbia High School, he ran for School Board Member in the Maplewood/South Orange School District. Chigozie ran because the public schools had an unjust tracking system. Black students were disproportionately tracked in remedial and lower-level courses, while white students were overwhelmingly placed in honors classes. The local teachers’ union endorsed his candidacy, and his progressive campaign energized students and parents. He came up short on Election Day, but he learned that when we fight, we win, even if it does not happen right away. After the election, the Superintendent agreed to retire, the high school principal was denied tenure, and tracking began in high school, rather than middle school, for science and social studies. And more recently, the school district settled a lawsuit with Black parents that required them to take steps to integrate classrooms.

Questions that echoed from the United States last week bothered on how possible it would be for the young politician to win the vacant position. There were some doubts from some certain quarters on the possibility but a high profile Akalite who lives in the United States provided the needed answer. Commenting on the victory of Barrister Oyema, a high profile Akalite based in the United States, Chief Victor Esomonu, seriously expressed optimism that Onyema winning the primaries is as good as a done deal. According to him, the moment a Democrat wins a primary election in NJ, “there are 90 percent chances that he would win the main election.”

All efforts to reach out to Attorney Chigozie Onyema last week proved abortive. Be that as it may, Tuesday June 10, 2025 remains a significant day in the life of Onyema and other Akalites living in the United States because it was the day the primary election was held which gave victory to Onyema. It is now a question of time for the young politician to be addressed as an honourable member.