Labour party to nominate Helen Ogbu for Galway West seat
Labour Councillor Helen Ogbu has been formally announced as her party’s candidate for the Galway West bye-election.
In an Instagram post, the Labour Party’s Galway West constituency invited supporters to a meeting at the Radisson Red on January 26 at 7.30pm for the formal nomination of the Galway City Council member.
“Helen has made a real impact for the lives of her constituents since being elected. We couldn’t be prouder that she is once again standing to try and help improve the lives of everyone here in Galway West,” the post read.
Speaking to the Irish Independent after the announcement, Cllr Ogbu said: “The priorities for me in this bye-election are housing, transport and the cost of living. These are the huge challenges facing our constituency.”
"Galway West deserves a TD who can relate to and represent everyone — regardless of age, background, creed or colour.”
Cllr Ogbu will contest the bye-election against independent candidates Noel Thomas, Thomas Welby and Sheila Garrity, as well as Green Party candidate Niall Murphy.
Cllr Ogbu made history in June 2024 after becoming the first African woman to be elected to Galway City Council.
She also ran in the 2024 General Election but was unsuccessful as she was eliminated after eight counts with 2,622 votes.
Cllr Ogbu came to Ireland as a refugee in 2005, after fleeing threats faced by her husband, who was murdered for his political activity in their native Nigeria.
Cllr Ogbu has worked in community activism for 17 years, including as chair of the Galway Refugee Support Group.
Talking to the Irish Independent in June 2024, she said her decision to enter local politics is not for herself, but to inspire others to follow in her footsteps.
“I’m not doing it for me, it’s being an inspiration to people, telling them it’s possible, that they can do it, especially the young people,” she said.