David Idris Zacharias

Early life and education Zacharias was born in Ejule, a community in Ofu local council area of Kogi State. and proceeded to win Idah federal Constituency seat in the National Assembly beating then incumbent Emmanuel Egwu of the People's Democratic Party, PDP at the general elections with clear margin of victory. Emmanuel Egwu not satisfied with his defeat challenged the result of the poll at election petition tribunal asking the court to nullify Zacharias’ victory and declare him (Emmanuel Egwu) the winner of the poll. On August 22, 2019 the three-man tribunal sitting in Wuse Zone 2 Magistrate Court, Abuja unanimously ruled that Zacharias was the rightful winner of the February 2019 poll affirming his electoral victory and struck out Emmanuel Egwu and PDP’s petition. Emmanuel Egwu is challenging the ruling of the tribunal at the court of appeal.

Humanitarian services Zacharias is a community figure in Kogi State, involved in humanitarian and emergency response services.

2012 flood disaster During the 2012 flood disaster that ravaged hundreds of communities across 24 states in Nigeria including Kogi State, Zacharias was very visible to the victims in his early response providing relief materials to thousands of people sacked by the flood across various communities in Kogi State. In the build up to 2019 general elections, violent crimes peaked as thugs attacked political campaigns injuring and killing people. In 2015, a youth leader, Abu Jeremiah was reportedly trailed and killed by unknown gunmen. In 2011, a number of people were killed while many others sustained serious injuries following a violent clash between rival political thugs in the town. His efforts in providing self sustainable skills, employment and academic scholarships to the youths who are most vulnerable in getting involved in crimes has seen a drastic reduction in violent crimes in Ejule .

David Zacharias foundation The Zacharias foundation is founded to help the less fortunate fellow citizens on the margin of society to give them hope for survival and confidence for the future. The foundation is providing hundreds of scholarships to secondary school students across the four local council areas of Idah, Ibaji, Igalamela and Ofu that make up Idah federal Constituency for over six years. Young women and widows are benefiting from Zacharias foundation by providing them funds to start small scale businesses. The foundation spending show that it has also given funds to health care and sports related charities as well as religious groups