Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State has been informed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) that he won’t be receiving an automatic ticket
Ahead of the November 16, 2024, gubernatorial election in Ondo State, the All Progressives Congress (APC) conveyed its decision to deny Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa an automatic ticket.
This declaration was communicated by APC national spokesman Felix Morka during Thursday’s edition of Channels Television’s Politics Today program
He emphasized that the APC operates on democratic principles, stating that anyone seeking a nomination must earn it.
In response to inquiries about granting Governor Aiyedatiwa the right of first refusal in the party’s primary for the November poll, Morka clarified, “We have not had that discussion but 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 gifts in APC; we contest and we compete and we win whatever it is we can get in terms of representation,” he added
Morka also mentioned that he cannot predict whether the governorship ticket would be zoned in Ondo or not
“We are yet to engage on zoning. We will explain to the people if and when we do that,” he said.
After the passing of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, Aiyedatiwa, who previously served as the Deputy Governor of Ondo, assumed the role of substantive Governor in the South-West state on December 27, 2023.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has already scheduled the Ondo State Governorship Poll for November 16, 2024, with no anticipated changes unless there are last-minute adjustments.
Kanyi Daily recalls that the acting governor, Hon. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, had been inaugurated as the 7th substantive Governor of Ondo State.