US midterms: Trump's MAGA loses Senate as Nigerian-Americans win four seats
In a sharp column, veteran journalist Owei Lakemfa argues the 2026 US midterms—where Democrats seized Senate control and Republicans lost seven seats—mark a global safety upgrade. Lakemfa writes that Trump, "living under messianic illusions," misread voter anger over inflation, ICE street tactics, and war weariness from his undeclared Iran conflict and Venezuela intervention. The author notes Trump's election-eve Iran strike backfired, while tariff wars with Canada and China worsened US inflation.
For Nigeria, the win produced four Nigerian-American victors in Maryland, Washington, Texas, and Pennsylvania—plus historic firsts: Keisha Lance Bottoms as first Black woman governor in 250 years, Deb Haaland as first Native American woman governor, plus the first Muslim senator, first female Native senator, and first Gen Z woman in Congress.
Iran's Mojtaba Khamenei dismisses policy change hopes, while EU's Kaja Kallas pushes continued Ukraine support—contrary to Trump's peace efforts. Lakemfa concludes the result is "a plus for the human race" with Trump nearing White House exit.
Will a Democratic Congress mean steadier US-Africa engagement, or just a different flavour of great-power politics?