UK Conservative Leader Kemi Badenoch Says She No Longer Identifies as Nigerian
British Conservative Party leader and Member of Parliament Kemi Badenoch has revealed that she no longer identifies as Nigerian, stating that she has not renewed her Nigerian passport since the early 2000s.
Badenoch, who was born in the United Kingdom, spent much of her formative years in Nigeria and the United States before returning to the UK at the age of 16. Her return, she explained, was prompted by the worsening political and economic conditions in Nigeria at the time — a situation she described as deeply formative to her views on governance and nationhood.
‘I Am British’: A Personal and Political Statement
In her remarks, Badenoch emphasized that her decision is not borne out of disdain for Nigeria’s people or culture but reflects her current political identity and allegiance.
“I no longer identify as Nigerian. I haven’t held a valid Nigerian passport in over two decades,” she said, adding that her political and ideological convictions have since been shaped by her life and work in the United Kingdom.
Her comments have sparked widespread debate online, with critics accusing her of disavowing her roots, while others applaud her for being forthright about her identity and personal convictions.
The conversation also reignites broader questions around diaspora identity, dual citizenship, and national belonging—especially among Africans living in the West.
As the Conservative Party leader continues to shape her political narrative, her disavowal of Nigerian identity is likely to influence both public perception and her international profile in the years ahead.
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