Politics

Harris makes history as first female, Black, South Asian American VP-elect

Published

5 years ago

November 8, 2020

With Joe Biden now United States president-elect, his running mate, Sen. Kamala Harris, also solidified her place in history Saturday by becoming the first woman, the first Black American and the first South Asian American elected vice president in US history.

Harris’ political career has included many barrier-breaking moments, such as serving as California’s first Black female attorney general and being the second Black woman in history to be elected to the US Senate.

Harris, 56, the only Black woman currently in the Senate, was elected in 2016 after serving as California’s attorney general and, before that, as the San Francisco district attorney. The child of Jamaican and Indian immigrants, the native of Oakland, California, has said she was inspired to attend law school after attending civil rights protests with her parents.

Before Harris made history in the ivory halls of Congress and on the Democratic presidential ticket, her sharp debate skills and understanding of her multiracial heritage were honed at Howard University, one of the most prestigious historically Black colleges in the country.

Harris, a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha, the historically Black sorority she joined while at Howard, will also be the first vice president from a historically Black Greek-letter organization.

Harris’ mother, Shyamala Gopalan, who immigrated to the United States at the age of 19 to pursue a doctorate in nutrition and endocrinology at the University of California, Berkeley, had an immense impact on Harris and her sister, Maya. The senator has spoken about how Gopalan, a civil rights activist, was a role model for her despite the challenges she faced as an immigrant and later as a single mother, forging a life in the United States.

Gopalan met Harris’ father, Donald, while participating in civil rights protests. They eventually divorced, with her raising the children on her own. Gopalan was cognizant that most people would see her children as Black and was “determined to make sure we would grow into confident, proud Black women,” Harris wrote in her autobiography, “The Truths We Hold.” However, Gopalan also made efforts to nurture her children’s Indian heritage.

Picking Harris also provided the ticket with generational diversity. Biden, who will turn 78 later this month, is the oldest president-elect in US history.

Politics

Tension Grows in ADC as Obi, Atiku Supporters Clash Over 2027 Presidential Ticket

Published

5 hours ago

January 21, 2026

Trends Admin

Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi

Tension Grows in ADC as Obi, Atiku Supporters Clash Over 2027 Presidential Ticket

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) is experiencing rising internal tension as supporters of former Labour Party candidate Peter Obi and former Vice‑President Atiku Abubakar clash over the party’s 2027 presidential ticket, raising concerns about unity within the opposition ahead of the general elections.

The friction stems from competing ambitions, with both Obi and Atiku positioning themselves to lead the ADC into the 2027 Nigerian elections. Atiku, who resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and Obi, who left the Labour Party, have strengthened the ADC’s profile, making it a key opposition platform.

Obi’s supporters, often called the Obidient Movement, fear that Atiku’s extensive political network could overshadow Obi’s bid for the ticket. Atiku, meanwhile, has urged both camps to avoid internal divisions, warning that infighting could advantage the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Tension Grows in ADC as Obi, Atiku Supporters Clash Over 2027 Presidential Ticket

Politics

PDP Clears Goodluck Jonathan, Southern Aspirants for 2027 Presidential Race

Published

5 hours ago

January 21, 2026

Trends Admin

Former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan

PDP Clears Goodluck Jonathan, Southern Aspirants for 2027 Presidential Race

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has officially cleared former President Goodluck Jonathan and other southern Nigerian politicians to contest the party’s 2027 presidential ticket, signalling the start of what could be a highly competitive and high-profile primary race.

PDP National Chairman Kabiru Tanimu Turaki emphasized that the presidential primaries will be open, fair, and transparent, allowing all eligible southern aspirants to participate. The clarification comes amid speculation over whether Jonathan, who previously served two terms as president, would re-enter the national political scene.

PDP Clears Goodluck Jonathan, Southern Aspirants for 2027 Presidential Race

Politics

ADC, Obidient Movement Unite with Ex‑APC Leader to Challenge APC in 2027

Published

1 day ago

January 20, 2026

Trends Admin

ADC, Obidient Movement Unite with Ex‑APC Leader to Challenge APC in 2027

In a major political development ahead of the 2027 general elections, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has formally joined forces with the Obidient Movement and former APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie‑Oyegun, to strengthen opposition efforts against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). The alliance was announced during a high-profile event in Benin City, Edo State, where leaders of the Obidient Movement officially merged with the ADC, committing to joint mobilisation and grassroots engagement.

Chief Odigie‑Oyegun described the coalition as a timely strategy to consolidate opposition forces and address public dissatisfaction with APC governance. The Obidient Movement — the youth-led network that supported Peter Obi in 2023 — pledged to leverage its national structure to expand ADC’s reach across Edo State and other key regions.