Former commercial motorcycle rider turned lawmaker, Donatus Mathew, has lost his bid to secure the All Progressives Congress (APC) ticket for the 2027 House of Representatives election in Kaduna State, months after defecting from the Labour Party.
Mathew rose to national prominence during the 2023 general elections when he pulled off a major upset in Kaduna’s Kaura Federal Constituency by defeating a four-term incumbent. Contesting under the Labour Party, he secured 10,508 votes against the incumbent’s 10,297 votes, a victory widely celebrated as a symbol of grassroots political change.
In December 2024, however, Mathew defected to the APC, citing internal crises within the Labour Party and the need for broader political stability. The move generated mixed reactions at the time, especially among supporters of former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, whose 2023 campaign wave significantly boosted Labour Party candidates across the country.
During the APC primaries ahead of the 2027 elections, Mathew reportedly secured only 255 votes, while his rival overwhelmingly won with 1,085 votes. Party stakeholders and observers interpreted the result as a strong message from local political structures against recent defectors.
Following the outcome, social media platforms erupted with reactions, particularly from Obi supporters who viewed the defeat as political “karma” for abandoning the Labour Party. Several users shared mocking comments and viral phrases, including one widely circulated remark suggesting that Mathew “thought he sat at the table, not knowing he was on the menu.”
Political analysts say the development reflects the challenges defectors often face when trying to integrate into established party structures, especially in environments where loyalty and long-term political relationships play major roles in internal contests.
Others argue that Mathew’s loss highlights broader tensions within Nigerian politics, where politicians frequently switch parties amid ideological uncertainty and strategic calculations ahead of elections.
Despite the setback, observers note that Mathew’s political future may not necessarily be over. With his current term expected to end in 2027, speculation has already emerged about possible next steps, including a return to the Labour Party, alignment with another opposition platform, or even an independent political path if electoral laws permit.
Supporters of the lawmaker continue to praise his remarkable rise from humble beginnings to national politics, describing his 2023 victory as an inspiration for ordinary Nigerians seeking representation outside traditional political elites.
As preparations for the 2027 elections intensify, Mathew’s experience serves as another example of the shifting alliances, internal rivalries, and unpredictable dynamics shaping Nigeria’s evolving political landscape.
