Meet Ohaebosim, first Nigerian-American to become lieutenant governor in US

Photo: KC Ohaebosim. CREDIT: Ohaebosim | Facebook

Wichita Democrat KC Ohaebosim has been elected Lieutenant Governor of Kansas, becoming the first Nigerian-American to hold the office in the United States.

The Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, announced this in a post on X on Friday, congratulating Ohaebosim on his victory in the November 3 midterm elections.

“Nigerian American KC Ohaebosim WON in Kansas! The race has been called. ‘Wichita Democrat KC Ohaebosim was elected Lieutenant Governor.’

“He’s now the 1st Nigerian-American to become Lieutenant Governor in the US. Hearty Congrats,” she wrote.

A lieutenant governor is functionally equivalent to a deputy governor in countries like Nigeria.

The race was called after a close-race audit delayed the official declaration of the winner for more than a week after Election Day.

Ohaebosim will serve alongside Governor-elect Cindy Holscher, a Democrat from Overland Park, who narrowly defeated Republican Kansas Senate President Ty Masterson.

According to a report published by Kansas City public radio station KCUR on Thursday, Holscher defeated Masterson by about 0.6 per cent, representing fewer than 8,000 votes, after an audit

Ohaebosim, a Democrat from Wichita, has represented the 89th District in the Kansas House of Representatives since 2017. He did not seek re-election to the state House in 2026 after joining Holscher’s gubernatorial ticket.

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Born in Wichita, Kansas, he is the son of Nigeria-born Dr Linus Ohaebosim, a physician.

Ohaebosim spent part of his childhood and received some of his early education in Nigeria before returning to Kansas, where he attended Wichita Heights High School.

He later obtained a bachelor’s degree from Wichita State University and a Master of Business Administration from Newman University, both in Wichita.

Before entering politics, he worked in technology-related roles, including as a data analyst. In the Kansas House, he served on several committees, including Transportation, General Government Budget, and Energy, Utilities and Telecommunications, where he was the ranking minority member.

His election also marks a milestone in Kansas political history. KCUR reported that he would become the second Black person elected to a statewide office in the state, following former State Auditor Edward McCabe in 1882.

The victory forms part of a wider Democratic gain in Kansas during the November 3 elections.

Democrats also won the state’s attorney general race and a US Senate seat, while breaking the Republican supermajority in the state House of Representatives.

Holscher and Ohaebosim are expected to assume office in 2027.