The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Nentawe Yilwatda, has dismissed growing speculation that the party may grant automatic tickets to serving members of the National Assembly ahead of future elections.
Speaking during a media chat in Abuja on Thursday, Yilwatda made it clear that such a provision does not exist within the party’s framework.
“There is no automatic ticket in our constitution. The party cannot promise an automatic ticket,” he stated.
He explained that both the APC constitution and Nigeria’s electoral laws provide clear procedures for candidate emergence, leaving no room for preferential treatment.
“The constitution of the party does not provide for automatic tickets, and the party cannot wishfully promise automatic ticket to anyone,” he said.
Referencing the Electoral Act, the APC chairman noted that all candidates must emerge through recognized primary processes.
“The Electoral Act also does not provide for automatic ticket. It says all primaries must be either by consensus or by direct primaries,” he added.
Yilwatda further emphasized that every aspirant, including incumbent lawmakers, would be subjected to the same internal democratic process.
“All members of our party will undergo the same process. We will use the Electoral Act, our party guidelines, and constitution to get people to participate in primaries,” he said.
However, he acknowledged that performance in office would remain a critical factor in determining political support from both party members and the electorate.
“The people and party members will judge those who have performed very well,” Yilwatda noted.
The clarification comes amid ongoing political calculations within the ruling party as it prepares for future electoral contests, signaling a commitment to internal democracy while leaving the ultimate decision in the hands of party members and voters.
