'Incredibly honoured' Longford councillor chosen as new Fianna Fáil Vice President
Cllr Uruemu Adejinmi, who has been a community activist for many years, was elevated to the ranks of Longford County Council in 2020
Longford County Councillor Uruemu Adejinmi said she was 'honoured and humbled' to be elected as vice president of the Fianna Fáil Ard Comhairle at the party's Ard Fheis in Dublin recently.
The local representative was Ireland’s first black female Mayor after she was selected Longford Municipal District Cathaoirleach in 2021,
Cllr Adejinmi, who has been a community activist for many years, was elevated to the ranks of Longford County Council in 2020 when she assumed the seat vacated by Fianna Fáil's Joe Flaherty following the latter's election to the Dáíl.
She received almost 300 votes as she comfortably surpassed the 250 quote to be elected one of three Vice Presidents of the Ard Chomhairle (National Executive) having initially secured the required five nominations.
Cllr Adejinmi, who is originally from Nigeria, said it was a special feeling to have so much support.
"I feel incredibly honoured and humbled to have been first nominated by the membership and then to receive the votes and to have been elected into the position by the membership of Fianna Fáil.
"I'm so deeply grateful to Fianna Fáil, to the party members for their vote of confidence in me for the role of vice-president."
Cllr Adejinmi will be one three non-parliamentary vice presidents, whicke there are also two parliamentary vice-presidents.
"The role would be to support the president (Micheál Martin) in the organisational matters of the party and in the absence of the president, maybe due to international assignments or maybe he can't attend the Ard Comhairle for any reason, then one of the vice-presidents chairs the Ard Comhairle and goes through the clár (agenda) of the day."
Cllr Adejinmi said the nomination occurred a few weeks ago and there was a window where people could send in nominations to head office of their choices to take on roles within the national executive.
"At the end of the nominations, I got a call to my great surprise from headquarters to see that I had received enough nominations to qualify to be a candidate for vice president.
The local representative did not canvass nominations, asked who nominated her, but nominations are confidential.
"I was told nominations were sent in from around the country so it was a huge surprise and a huge honour."
Cllr Adejinmi, who gathered a campaign team together in Longford prior to Saturday's vote to work out their strategy. believes her role as vice president will help Longford.
"Since this opportunity has presented itself, it's a great opportunity not just for myself as an individual but also for the Longford party membership.
"There is a voice from Longford at the national executive, at the level of vice president which is brilliant and there's also a great visibility for Longford as well."
Cllr Adejinmi said she was delighted to have been voted into the second of the three vice president positions.
She stated working hard in her current roles are her priority, but she would be willing to explore and consider running as a a senator or TD in the future.
"This [vice-president] role certainly gives me an opportunity to engage with the wider body of Fianna Fáil, not just in Longford Westmeath constituency but countrywide and so that is what my focus is at the moment.
"Whatever opportunities this position brings in the future I will be more than happy to explore it.
"You know not even seeking the nomination in the first place and getting it obviously it shows that people have confidence in me, people are happy with the work that I do within the party at grassroots level, at local level and even in my engagement with our national colleagues as well.
"So I intend to build up on that, strengthen the support within the party, work as hard as I can to support people within the party, members and officers.