The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has said that it will not grant an automatic ticket to individuals who recently joined the party or planning to join.
The party added that all members would be given equal opportunity to contest in its primaries ahead of the 2023 general elections.
APC Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) Secretary, Senator John James Akpanudoedehe, made the declaration in a statement issued on Friday.
Akpanudoedehe, while reacting to reports that APC is planning to give former President Goodluck Jonathan its presidency ticket for the 2023 general elections.
The Secretary, who spoke during an interview with Channels TV had said Jonathan is free to join the APC. Akpanudoedehe had said the party would not only welcome Jonathan but would also be granted a founding member status if he joins.
He also noted that Jonathan would be given an opportunity to contest for the presidency in 2023.
Meanwhile, since the interview there have been speculations that the APC is plotting to give Jonathan its ticket for the 2023 Presidential election.
Reacting, Akpanudoedehe, dismissed the reports, saying that his words were misinterpreted.
He explained the waiver granted to the new entrants and defectors into the party does not exclude them from undergoing nomination processes of contesting for positions in the party and as its flag bearers in general elections.
He maintained that the waiver by NEC was not restricted to anyone.
The statement reads, “For the records, in my recent television interview reaction to the rumoured plans by former President Goodluck Jonathan to join the APC, my statement was that NEC resolution was a blanket waiver to ALL new APC entrants, including the interviewee.
“The waiver is not specific to anyone as being misconstrued and misrepresented in some sections.
“Coming into the party gives no one special status of being an automatic party candidate in any election. All aspirants must undergo the nomination processes outlined by the APC constitution.”
