The Kaduna State Election Petition Tribunal has sacked Hon. Donatus Mathew from his position as a member of the House of Representatives under the Labour Party (LP) for Kaura Constituency in Kaduna State.
The tribunal declared Hon. Gideon Lucas Gwani from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) as the rightful winner of the election.
Hon. Donatus Mathew, who gained popularity as an Okada rider, had initially won the election into the House of Representatives, but the tribunal’s ruling has now overturned that result in favor of Hon. Gideon Lucas Gwani. The tribunal’s decision has reshaped the representation for Kaura Constituency in Kaduna State.
Profile of Donatus Mathew
Donatus Mathew, also known as an ‘Okada rider,’ achieved a remarkable feat by winning a seat in the Federal House of Representatives as a member of the Labour Party (LP) representing the Kaura federal constituency of Kaduna State.
Matthew hails from Kpak, Kagoro chiefdom in the Kaura Local Government Area of Kaduna State and was born in 1988. He began his educational journey at the Local Government Education Authority (LGEA) Primary School in Kadarko and later attended Saint Jani Seminary School. However, he completed his secondary education at Teachers’ College, Kagoro in Kaduna State. Subsequently, he pursued a bachelor’s degree in Philosophy from the Saint Albert Institute.
Before venturing into politics, Matthew worked as a commercial motorcycle operator, commonly known as an Okada rider. He embraced this job due to tough times and the lack of employment opportunities. Despite the initial skepticism from some who considered him inexperienced in Nigerian politics, Matthew started his political career as a councillor, where he acquired valuable skills in politicking.
Reflecting on his humble beginnings, he proudly stated, “Before I became a councillor, I was an Okada man. I have been using a bike to sustain myself, and I am proud of that. That is my humble beginning.”
Matthew’s involvement in politics deepened when he joined the Labour Party to support their presidential candidate. However, circumstances led him to enter the electoral contest, which he initially hesitated about but eventually embraced after consulting with others who encouraged him to serve. He saw an opportunity to provide his constituency with the credible leadership they deserved.
Having won the seat with 10,508 votes, Matthew emerged as the victor in the election, surpassing the candidates from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) who secured 10,297 and 9,919 votes, respectively.
He encouraged other politicians from humble backgrounds not to underestimate themselves and to stay focused on their genuine aspirations. He believed that by staying true to themselves, they could gain the trust and support of the people they aimed to serve.
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