The All Progressives Congress (APC) has firmly communicated to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State that he will not be granted an automatic ticket for the upcoming gubernatorial election scheduled for November 16, 2024. The announcement was made by the APC national spokesman, Felix Morka, during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme on Thursday.
Morka emphasized the democratic principles of the APC, asserting that every aspirant must earn their nomination rather than being handed a free pass. When questioned about the possibility of Governor Aiyedatiwa receiving 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.”
Highlighting the party’s commitment to a competitive selection process, Morka explained that suitability, qualification, and criteria would be subject to evaluation by the party members in Ondo State who would participate in the direct or indirect primary. He made it clear that preferences would be determined by the democratic decisions of the party members, and free gifts would not be granted.
As for the issue of zoning the governorship ticket in Ondo, Morka refrained from preempting any decision, stating, “We are yet to engage on zoning. We will explain to the people if and when we do that.”
Governor Aiyedatiwa, who assumed the role of the substantive governor after the demise of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu on December 27, 2023, faces the challenge of securing the APC nomination through the party’s democratic and competitive process. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has already scheduled the Ondo State Governorship Poll for November 16, 2024, barring any last-minute changes.
