The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, has clarified that there is no provision for automatic tickets in the party’s primary election process, stressing that all aspirants must comply with established electoral guidelines.
Speaking on a national television programme, the APC chairman disclosed that the party had received requests from some aspirants, including incumbent members of the National Assembly, seeking automatic tickets ahead of the primaries.
However, he maintained that such demands cannot be granted, noting that all party processes are guided by Nigeria’s electoral laws and the Constitution, neither of which provides for automatic candidacy.
“All elections are guided by electoral guidelines and the Constitution of Nigeria, which does not provide for automatic tickets for any contestant,” he stated.
On the issue of consensus, Professor Yilwatda emphasized that it remains a valid option within the party, but only when all aspirants willingly agree to the arrangement.
He assured that no aspirant who has purchased a nomination form would be shortchanged in the process, reiterating the party’s commitment to fairness and internal democracy.
The APC chairman also referenced the party’s gubernatorial primary election in Osun State, where aspirants collectively agreed and signed on to a consensus arrangement that produced a single candidate.
He noted that such an approach reflects unity and mutual understanding among party stakeholders, adding that consensus can only succeed where there is collective agreement and trust among aspirants.
