Ahead of the November 16, 2024, governorship poll in Ondo State, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has said Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa will not receive an automatic ticket.
The declaration was made by APC national spokesman, Felix Morka, during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today program on Thursday.
Morka said the party is committed to democracy, adding that all aspirants must earn their nominations. When questioned about the possibility of granting Aiyedatiwa the right of first refusal in the party’s primary, 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.”
“And 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.
“Whatever preference anyone may have, it is all subject to the democratic decision of the party members who will participate in our primaries.
“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,” he said.
Addressing the issue of zoning the governorship ticket in Ondo, Morka stated, “We are yet to engage on zoning. We will explain to the people if and when we do that.”
Governor Aiyedatiwa assumed office on December 27, 2023, following the demise of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu.
