{"id":18164,"date":"2025-11-09T06:24:45","date_gmt":"2025-11-09T06:24:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/umuakatimes.com\/topnews\/?p=18164"},"modified":"2025-11-09T06:24:45","modified_gmt":"2025-11-09T06:24:45","slug":"celebrations-continue-in-nj-as-onyema%e2%80%afsherrill-prepare-for-jan-%e2%80%af20%e2%80%af2026-inauguration","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/umuakatimes.com\/topnews\/celebrations-continue-in-nj-as-onyema%e2%80%afsherrill-prepare-for-jan-%e2%80%af20%e2%80%af2026-inauguration\/","title":{"rendered":"Celebrations continue in NJ as Onyema,\u202fSherrill prepare for Jan.\u202f20,\u202f2026 inauguration."},"content":{"rendered":"<div class='epvc-post-count'><span class='epvc-eye'><\/span>  <span class=\"epvc-count\"> 1,219<\/span><span class='epvc-label'> Views<\/span><\/div><p>On the night of November\u202f4, \u202f2025, Chigozie\u202f Onyema an America Akalite secured a decisive victory in the New\u202fJersey House of Assembly race for the 28th Legislative District. Running unopposed, Onyema who hails from Uba Umuaka will represent parts of Newark, the Essex County towns of Irvington, Maplewood and South\u202fOrange, and the Union County town of Hillside.<\/p>\n<p>Down in Umuaka Imo State Nigeria, the news sparked a festival of, dancing and merrymaking; Akalites reportedly gathered under the evening sky, both in Amiyi (his maternal home), Uba and other parts of Umuaka and sang the praises of their son who had climbed from the streets of Umuaka to the halls of Trenton. The celebrations have continued to gather momentum till date.<\/p>\n<p>In New\u202fJersey, Onyema\u2019s mother, Caroline Onyema beaming with joy, shared the moment with governor\u2011elect Mikie\u202fSherrill, a fellow Democrat who had campaigned alongside with Onyema just weeks earlier. The two women raised a glass to \u201cthe New\u202fJersey that works for everyone,\u201d echoing Onyema\u2019s own slogan.<\/p>\n<p>Akalites in America, UK, Canada and many other countries including South Africa and Germany have continued to send their messages of congratulations to Onyema and his team. Not left out are dignitaries from New\u202fJersey, labor unions and the Working Families Party, a U.S. political organization that focuses on progressive economic issues such as raising the minimum wage, expanding healthcare, and protecting labour rights while often cross\u2011endorsing Democratic candidates.<\/p>\n<p>The victory also drew commentaries from Akalites in Nigeria; several of them spoke with the local correspondents of Umuaka Times who questioned whether Onyema could have risen to such a political height in Nigeria, where corruption often blocks merit. \u201cIf he were here, the system would have tried to keep him down,\u201d one Akalite said, while another urged, \u201cLet the best of us lead the rest of us and end corruption.\u201d Their remarks underscored a broader call for transparent, merit\u2011based leadership in both countries.<\/p>\n<p>Umuaka Times correspondents gathered that many Americans and Nigerians considered Chigozie Onyema\u2019s victory as a bridge linking the hopes of a small Nigerian town of Umuaka to the exposure of a more inclusive New\u202fJersey. The celebrations, the messages and the conversations about integrity are just the beginning of what many hope will be a long, fruitful journey for the attorney\u2011turned\u2011legislator.<\/p>\n<p>Mikie\u202f Sherrill, the New\u202fJersey\u2019s 57th governor-elect will be inaugurated on January\u202f20, \u202f2026 alongside Mr\u00a0 Chigozie Onyema. Umuaka Times correspondents in America gathered that Attorney Chigozie Onyema after the inauguration will be counted among prominent Igbo sons who have held or continued to hold political offices in America. Such people include &#8211; John \u202fAmaechi \u2013 former NBA star who ran for the U.S. House of Representatives (Democratic primary, 2022).<\/p>\n<p>Cheta\u202f Ozougwu, a community organizer who served as a legislative aide in New\u202fYork City and has been active in local Democratic politics. Chioma \u202fUbogagu a former staffer on Capitol Hill and campaign advisor for several congressional races. Valerian\u202fUme Ezeoke who was appointed to handle a senior policy role in the New\u202fJersey Department of Community Affairs under Governor Phil\u202fMurphy.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>1,219 ViewsOn the night of November\u202f4, \u202f2025, Chigozie\u202f Onyema an America Akalite secured a decisive&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":18165,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[2],"tags":[876,874,875],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v18.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Celebrations continue in NJ as Onyema,\u202fSherrill prepare for Jan.\u202f20,\u202f2026 inauguration. -<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" 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