KADUNA — Hon. Donatus Mathew, the former commercial motorcycle operator who made headlines by winning a House of Representatives seat in 2023, has reportedly been denied a return ticket by the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The lawmaker, who represents Kaura Federal Constituency, had famously unseated a four-term incumbent on the platform of the Labour Party (LP) during the “Obidient” wave. However, his political fortunes appear to have soured following his decision to switch camps.
Abandoning the Platform
In December 2024, Mathew officially defected from the Labour Party to the APC, claiming that internal crises within the LP necessitated his move to the ruling party. The defection was met with heavy criticism from his constituents, many of whom felt he had betrayed the grassroots movement that catapulted him from the streets to the National Assembly.
Shut Out by the APC
As the 2027 election cycle approaches, the gamble appears to have backfired. Reports from the Kaduna APC indicate that the party has denied him a ticket to run for re-election. Insiders suggest that long-standing party members were prioritized over the defector, leaving him without a political home.
A Growing Backlash
Mathew’s situation has been used by political analysts as a case study on the risks of “party hopping.” Activists in his constituency have pointed to a perceived decline in his legislative activity since the defection, with some alleging he failed to sponsor significant bills or motions for the people of Kaura.
With the APC ticket out of reach and his bridge back to the Labour Party effectively burned, the “Okada rider” lawmaker now faces the prospect of a very short career in the Green Chamber.
