Chimaobi Sam Atu

A candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Chimaobi Sam Atu on Sunday, was declared winner of Enugu North/Enugu South Federal Constituency election conducted on Saturday, February 25. The INEC Returning Officer, Dr. (Mrs.) Evelyn Ijeoma Ezepue made the announcement after he beat the incumbent member, Hon. Offor Chukwuegbo of the PDP. Chimaobi is a community vigilante member and bus driver whose victory gives hope to the common man. He secured a total of 65,247 to defeat his closest opponents, Hon. Nnonso Nnamani of APGA who scored a total of 9215 and Hon. Offor Chukwuegbo who polled a total of 7,617 votes. While the APC candidate, Hon. Juliet Egbo scored 2394 votes. Atu, a native of Ndiaga Ugwuaji in Enugu South Local Government Area of Enugu State, was, therefore, returned elected after satisfying all the requirements of the law. Similarly, INEC, 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.”

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