Nigerian-Canadian Candidates Seek a Stronger Voice in Ontario’s 2026 Municipal Elections

From mayoral contests to school board races, candidates of Nigerian heritage are asking voters for the opportunity to shape their communities.

Adeba Connector News • October 20, 2026 • Updated October 21, 2026 • Ontario

Nigerian-Canadian candidates are seeking seats at council tables and on school boards across Ontario as voters prepare for the October 26 municipal elections. Their campaigns span Milton, Toronto, Brampton, Oshawa, St. Catharines, Thorold, Bradford West Gwillimbury and Welland, bringing community representation into conversations about local leadership.

This community roundup features at least 17 candidates of Nigerian heritage, expanding on the 12-person roster published for NCA-GTA’s September meet-and-greet. This is a community snapshot, rather than an exhaustive province-wide list.

Turning community experience into public service

In an October 19 report, New Canadian Media journalist Dayo Ojerinde examined the campaigns of Adejisola Atiba, Olaleye Afolabi Oluwaolorunlanke and Anthony A. Adeoye. Their accounts connected immigrant experiences and community advocacy with a desire to influence public decisions. [2]

Atiba, seeking Milton’s Ward 4 regional council seat, identified transit, youth engagement and economic development among her priorities. Oluwaolorunlanke, running for Oshawa’s Ward 1 city council seat, discussed infrastructure, recreation and development. Adeoye, a St. Catharines mayoral candidate, highlighted affordability, homelessness and economic opportunity. Their proposals invite voters to consider what representation could deliver in everyday life. [2]

Meet the wider field

Alongside the three candidates profiled by New Canadian Media, this expanded directory includes 14 others. The offices below reflect municipal records and campaign information reviewed for this report. [3] [4] [5]

Campaign links reviewed October 21, 2026. Where a campaign website could not be verified, the directory links to the official municipal listing. Some published campaign websites may be temporarily unavailable. External links are provided for voter information and do not imply endorsement.

Update: Chéz Amun and John Braimoh join the roundup

Chéz Amun is a certified candidate for Mayor of Milton. A youth mentor and business/events marketer with a Nigerian father and Trinidadian mother, he has highlighted local jobs, youth opportunities, transit and family services in his campaign. His inclusion broadens this roundup’s coverage of candidates of Nigerian heritage. Milton candidate register; MiltonToday candidate profile. Watch the Instagram reel supplied to Adeba Connector News.

John Braimoh is running for Welland City Council in Ward 3. His addition extends this community roundup to Welland, alongside the candidates already featured from other Ontario municipalities. Readers can learn more through his campaign website and consult Welland’s candidate list.

Correction and update — October 21, 2026: An earlier version omitted Chéz Amun and John Braimoh. Both have been added to the directory, bringing the number featured to 17. This remains a community roundup and is not a complete province-wide candidate list.

Three more candidates broadening the picture

Titi Oyeleye is seeking a seat on Thorold City Council. In a candidate statement published by ThoroldToday, she highlighted her experience in health care, social services, entrepreneurship and non-profit leadership, and identified housing, property taxes, infrastructure and community services as issues deserving attention. [12] [13]

Patience Evbagharu is running for Toronto City Council in Ward 21, Scarborough Centre. Her inclusion extends this roundup’s Toronto coverage beyond the Ward 4 and Ward 5 races. [14]

Henry Egharevba is seeking the Ward 4 council seat in Bradford West Gwillimbury. In a BradfordToday candidate questionnaire, he discussed neighbourhood safety, support for local businesses and recreation, drawing on his experience in education and community development. [15] [16]

Different races, practical priorities

The wider field brings additional issues into focus. Joseph Adams’ campaign emphasizes student achievement, parent involvement and responsible stewardship in Catholic education. Bridget Ogundipe’s Toronto campaign identifies affordability, transportation, the local economy and neighbourhood life as priorities. [6] [7]

In York South–Weston, Nekpen Obasogie’s published agenda includes family support, local business development and affordable housing. In Brampton, Idris Orughu is campaigning on accountability, spending oversight and improvements to basic services. These are campaign positions, to be assessed alongside the proposals of other candidates in each race. [8] [9]

Oshawa candidates are also setting out their approaches. Adedeji Ibinayo’s Ward 5 platform focuses on safety, taxes and infrastructure, while Henry Onwuachu’s mayoral campaign stresses responsive leadership and accountability. [10] [11]

A conversation that extends beyond election day

A candidate’s heritage may help residents recognize shared experiences. Voters still have distinct choices to make about policies, experience and the responsibilities of the office being contested. A school trustee race and a mayoral contest offer different ways to serve, and each deserves close attention.

For community organizations, the opportunity extends to helping residents find reliable information, ask candidates specific questions and stay involved after the results. Readers can consult their municipality’s election website for their local candidate list and voting details.

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