The All Progressives Congress (APC) has communicated to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State that there will be no automatic ticket granted to him for the upcoming gubernatorial election scheduled for November 16, 2024. The APC, through its national spokesman, Felix Morka, emphasized that the party operates democratically, and any aspirant, including Aiyedatiwa, must earn their nomination.
During an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today program on Thursday, Morka clarified that the party does not offer preferential treatment and candidates must justify their suitability through a competitive process. Responding to inquiries about whether Aiyedatiwa would be given the right of first refusal in the party’s primary, Morka affirmed the democratic principles of the APC, stating that decisions are subject to the democratic choices of party members participating in the primary.
Morka asserted, “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.” Additionally, he mentioned that discussions on zoning the governorship ticket in Ondo had not taken place yet, and the party would communicate its stance to the people if and when such discussions occurred.
Aiyedatiwa, the former deputy governor of Ondo, assumed the role of substantive governor in the South-West state on December 27, 2023, following the demise of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has already scheduled the Ondo State Governorship Poll for November 16, 2024, pending any last-minute changes.