The All Progressives Congress (APC) has said there would be no automatic ticket for former President GoodLuck Jonathan and others planning to defect to the party ahead of 2023 general elections.
APC Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) Secretary, Senator John Akpanudoedehe, on Friday made this known in a statement in Abuja.
TheFact Nigeria reports that the former President had been rumoured once again this week to be close to joining the party that defeated him in the 2015 presidential election.
Jonathan has denied the rumours of his possible defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) but the APC , has fueled speculations by throwing him an open invitation to join, with a promise to waive restrictions on his qualification to instantly run for office.
However, the party said the waiver granted new defectors does not exclude them from undergoing nomination processes of contesting for positions in the party and as its flag bearers in general elections.
He said defection into the party by any person does not confer the status of an automatic candidate of the party on such individual.
The statement reads; ‘The All Progressives Congress APC National Executive Committee NEC resolution of 8th December 2020 approved the granting of waivers to persons who have recently joined the party and those desirous of joining the party in the nearest future to contest for positions in the APC and as party flag bearers in general elections.
“By the NEC resolution, new members will enjoy all the benefits and privileges accruable by virtue of their membership of the APC.
“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 definitely 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.
“Excerpts of APC NEC 8th December, 2020 resolution: ‘…new members will enjoy all the benefits and privileges accruable by virtue of their membership of the party. So, they will be able to contest for positions in the party.
“They will be able to contest elections without any requirement of being members for a number of years or period of time,” the statement said.
