The All Progressives Congress (APC) has dismissed the possibility of granting an automatic ticket to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa for the upcoming governorship election in Ondo State scheduled for November 16, 2024.
In a statement made by APC national spokesman, Felix Morka, during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today program on Thursday, he emphasized the party’s commitment to democracy and the principle that every aspirant must earn their nomination.
Morka stated, “We are a democratic party, we are a progress party; we don’t give anything to people; people have to justify and earn it. It is not to us they have to justify their suitability, their qualification, or criteria; it is to the people of the state who are our members, who would participate in the direct or indirect primary.”
Responding to inquiries about whether Aiyedatiwa would be offered the right of first refusal, Morka explained, “We have not had that discussion… Whatever preference anyone may have, it is all subject to the democratic decision of the party members who will participate in our primaries.”
He made it clear that the APC does not offer free passes, stating, “We don’t give free gifts in APC; we contest and we compete and we win whatever it is we can get in terms of representation.”
Regarding the potential zoning of the governorship ticket in Ondo, Morka expressed that the party has not yet engaged in discussions about it. He added, “We are yet to engage on zoning. We will explain to the people if and when we do that.”