Popular Okada rider, Donatus Mathew, wins House of Reps seat with Labour Party

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has announced Labour Party (LP) candidate, Donatus Mathew, winner of the Kaura Constituency, Kaduna in the Federal House of Representatives.

Matthew, who is an Okada rider is the first LP candidate to win a legislative seat in the 2023 Reps election.

The returning officer, Prof. Elijah Ella said he polled a total of 10,508 to defeat the incumbent member and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), member, Hon. Gideon Lucas Gwani who came second with 10,297 votes.

Prof. Ella said the candidate of All Progressive Congress (APC) trailed with 9,919 votes, while that of the New Nigerian People’s Party (NNPP), secured 5,354 votes to come third and fourth respectively.

Speaking to newsmen shortly after the declaration him winner of the poll, the member-elect, Mathew, thanked the electorate for the confidence reposed in him to represent them at the Green Chamber.

He however, solicited for support and cooperation from the people, while pledging to carry everyone along to achieve the desired success.

It was gathered that he resorted to riding okada after things went awry for him following his time as a Councilor.

A local source said: “Mathew didn’t do much campaign, he has few posters, he was once a councilor during Makarfi era, but later things went bad for him. He picked up Okada business, today he’s going to the Federal House of Reps. This is what Labour Party represents. It’s party for all, no preferential treatment.”

The incumbent legislator who is also the Minority Whip in the House of Representatives, Mr. Gideon Lucas Gwani, congratulated the member-elect and wished him well.

He urged his supporters to remain calm and accept the will of the electorate, even as he noted that God gives and takes power to and from whomever he pleases at the appropriate time.