By Ogochukwu Isioma
The Kaduna State National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Kaduna, on Friday, invalidated the election of Labour Party’s Donatus Mathew as lawmaker representing Kaura Federal Constituency and declared the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and second runner-up in the election as winner.
The Tribunal held that LP did not comply with the provisions of the electoral Act in nominating Mathew, an ‘Okada’ rider, who in February defeated the PDP House of Reps’ member of 30-years in the Federal Constituency.
The development comes after the National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Asaba, the Delta State capital, on Monday, invalidated the election of LP’s Ngozi Okolie as lawmaker representing Aniocha/Oshimili Constituency in the House of Representatives.
The Tribunal ruled that Okolie had not been a member of the Labour Party by May 28, 2022, the date of the primary election, and thus, he was not properly sponsored by the party.
As a result, the tribunal declared the runner-up in the February 25, 2023 National Assembly election, Ndudi Elumelu from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as the winner.
