The All Progressives Congress has said it has not granted automatic ticket to new decampees to the party ahead of the 2023 general election.
The APC Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee Secretary, Senator John Akpanudoedehe, said this.
Akpanudoedehe made the declaration in a statement in Abuja on Friday following insinuations that the party would offer automatic ticket to former President Goodluck Jonathan for the 2023 presidency, if he joins the party.
The APC said the waiver granted 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.
Akpanudoedehe said: “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.”
Akpanudoedehe recalled that the APC’s National Executive Committee resolved and granted waivers to persons who recently joined the party and those desirous of joining in the nearest future to contest for positions as party flag bearers in general elections.
He explained that by the NEC resolution, “new members will enjoy all the benefits and privileges accruable by the APC” but not the status of automatic candidate of the party.
He said: “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. A