A Nigerian, Yemi Mobolade, has been elected the mayor of Colorado Springs, a municipality in Colorado in the United States.
With his victory at the polls, Mobolade, the first African/African American man elected to lead the city in political upheaval, according to the Colorado Sun.
The new mayor, a Nigerian immigrant and businessman, won the seat without prior political experience defeating Wayne Williams in the city’s runoff contest.
Mobolade’s victory represents a political earthquake in Colorado Springs, long known as a conservative stronghold. Wayne Williams a Republican lost to Mobolade unaffiliated, the report added.
Mobolade had received 57% of the vote to Williams’ 43% as of 7:15 p.m. Tuesday. Williams conceded at about 7:30 p.m. When the second batch of results was released shortly before 9 p.m., the percentages hadn’t shifted.
Mobolade will succeed Mayor John Suthers, a former federal prosecutor and Colorado attorney general who was term-limited, to become the city’s 42nd mayor.
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Mobolade in his postelection speech said “We are Colorado Springs. It’s a new day in our beloved city. Do you believe that? Colorado Springs will be become an inclusive, culturally rich, economically prosperous, safe and vibrant city.”
“This is our win”, He added
A married father of three, Mobolade moved to Colorado Springs with his family in 2010 and quickly became a leader in the business community.
He co-founded two restaurants — The Wild Goose Meeting House and Good Neighbours Meeting House — in Colorado’s second-largest city and served as its small business development administrator.
He is also the vice president of business retention and expansion for the Colorado Springs Chamber and Economic Development Corporation.
