Ahead of the governorship election in Ondo State, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has ruled out automatic ticket for the governor of the state, Honourable Lucky Aiyedatiwa.
The national publicity secretary of APC, Felix Morka, who disclosed this during an interview on Channels Television at the weekend, said the ruling party respects due democratic process and everyone who desires nomination must earn it.
According to him, lack of internal democracy can lead to chaos and often violence due to the discontent.
He said the party had agreed that any party member who desired to run should show interest.
Describing internal democracy as the beauty of democracy, he noted that a good number of Nigerian political parties had failed to embrace practice internal democracy
Asked if APC would give Aiyedatiwa the right of first refusal ahead of the party’s primary for the November poll, Morka said: “We have not had that discussion but we are a democratic party, we are a progressive party; we don’t give anything to people; people have to justify and earn it.
“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 primary.
“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 added.
He explained that he could not pre-empt whether the ticket would be zoned in Ondo or not because, “We are yet to engage on zoning. We will explain to the people if and when we do that,”
It will be recalled that, Aiyedatiwa, former Deputy governor of the state was sworn in as the substantive governor on December 27, 2023, following the painful death of the late governor of the state, Rotimi Akeredolu.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed the governorship poll for November 16, 2024, while the party primary is o hold between March and April.
Meanwhile, some youths under auspices of Aiyedatiwa Youths and Students’ Support Group have thrown their weight behind the aspiration of the governor, saying Aiyedatiwa remains the best material in the election.
The convener of the group, Omotayo Olibamoyo, who stated this at the end of a meeting held in Akure at the weekend, said the managerial skill, technical know-how and youth-friendly programmes put Aiyedatiwa in the best position to rule the state in 2025.
Olibamoyo said the group decided to drum support for the aspiration of Aiyedatiwa because he had shown his capacity to replicate and build on the achievement of the late governor of the state, Rotimi Akeredolu.
According to him, the youths across the state, including student leaders examined the past records of the governor as a youth-friendly leader whose credentials speak volume.
Olibamoyo said; “Let me remind all of us that we have called this meeting to brainstorm on the state of our state, especially the aspiration of Hon Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, the Executive Governor of Ondo State.
“This meeting is necessary, to enable us share ideas and channel our energies toward the actualisation of the aspiration of Honourable Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, come 2024 guber poll.
“Aiyedatiwa has proven beyond doubt that he’s a true leader of the people. Within this period, he has paid pension arrears to pensioners, ordered the payment of 2017 salary owed civil servants in the state, ongoing completion of major road projects in the state and illumination of cities and towns by installing street lights across the state.
“Worthy of mention is the attempt to address the ocean surge challenge facing the people of Ayetoro, a community in the Southern part of the state.”
“These, and many more, are enough to give him the needed support to continue in office after February 2025.”
Olibamoyo added that every right-thinking youth should give Aiyedatiwa the needed support to move Ondo state forward.
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