In a bold declaration, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has asserted that Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State will not receive an automatic ticket for the upcoming governorship election slated for November 16, 2024. The party’s stance on this was articulated by APC national spokesman, Felix Morka, during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today program.
Morka emphasized the democratic nature of the APC, underscoring that any individual aspiring for a nomination must merit it through their actions and commitment. He firmly stated, “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.”
Addressing the speculation about whether Aiyedatiwa would have the right of first refusal in the party’s primary for the November poll, Morka clarified that the party has not engaged in such discussions. He highlighted that the suitability and qualification of candidates will be subject to the democratic decision of the party members participating in the primaries.
Furthermore, Morka refrained from preempting whether the governorship ticket would be zoned in Ondo, affirming that the party is yet to engage in zoning discussions. He assured that the party would transparently communicate with the people if and when such discussions occur.
The announcement comes in the wake of Aiyedatiwa assuming the position of substantive governor of Ondo State following the demise of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu. With the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) having already fixed the Ondo State Governorship Poll for November 16, 2024, the political landscape in the state is poised for an intriguing and closely-watched contest.
