Donatus Mathew, the former commercial motorcycle rider who stunned political observers by winning the Kaura Federal Constituency seat in the 2023 general election, has reportedly been denied a return ticket by the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Mathew, who emerged as a member of the House of Representatives on the platform of the Labour Party, became a symbol of grassroots political participation after defeating more established opponents during the 2023 polls.
The lawmaker officially defected from the Labour Party to the APC in December 2024, a move that sparked reactions across Kaduna State political circles and among his supporters.
However, despite joining the ruling party ahead of the next electoral cycle, sources within the APC disclosed that Mathew was not considered for the party’s ticket, throwing his political future into uncertainty.
His emergence in 2023 had attracted national attention, largely due to his humble background as an Okada rider before venturing into politics and eventually securing a seat in the National Assembly.
Political observers say the latest development reflects the growing internal struggle for party structures and electoral tickets ahead of future elections.
Efforts to obtain official comments from Mathew and APC officials in Kaduna State were unsuccessful as of press time.
The development is expected to generate fresh political debates within Kaura Federal Constituency, where Mathew’s victory in 2023 was widely celebrated as a triumph of ordinary citizens over entrenched political interests.
