By Seyifunmi Odunuga
The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Caucus in the Oyo State House of Assembly has distanced itself from the purported G-13 list being circulated about saying the list is fake and it is not traceable to any of the lawmakers of the party.
Recall that some aspirants into the Senate, House of Representatives and State Assembly in 2023 under the platform of the PDP in Oyo State reportedly threatened to resist any plan to impose candidates on them or present automatic tickets to some elected members.
They were allegedly reacting to a list of some 13 members of the Oyo State House of Assembly whom they claim have been given automatic tickets to contest under the platform of the PDP in 2023.
Speaking through the Party Whip of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon Akintunde Olajide (AKT) (Lagelu) wondered where the so-called G-13 list actually emanated from.
Hon Akintunde stated that as far as the Oyo Assembly PDP Caucus consisting of 26 members is concerned there is nothing like G-13, adding that there was never a time any meeting of such was held amongst the lawmakers or with Governor Seyi Makinde.
According to him, all the PDP members in the House have been doing their best in terms of good representation and they will allow the party to decide their fate in 2023 through the laid down party and election guidelines.
“It is very funny how people cook up stories. There’s nothing like G-13 as far as we are concerned in the Oyo State House of Assembly Unfortunately, my name is in the said list and I keep wondering who initiated the list. I have never held any meeting with anybody under the platform of G-13 so who is behind such a list? For the PDP lawmakers in Oyo Assembly, we are one indivisible entity. When the time comes every necessary step will be taken democratically. The PDP which is our party is supreme and every eligible member is free to vote and be voted for. They are free to contest for any political post they prefer.
“One of those things that helped us during the last general election was because everything was done in accordance with the constitution. There was nothing like the imposition of candidates at that time. The choice of candidates was made by the party through party primaries. As the party working to win the Presidency come 2023, we will never deviate from the constitution and whatever the party decides will be the final,” Hon Akintunde said.
The Lagelu lawmaker stressed that members of the PDP caucus will not be a party to any action that is capable of causing crisis or disintegration in our political party ahead of the 2023 election.
“We want to approach the election with a solid and united front. For all of us in the Oyo State House of Assembly, we will continue to connect with our constituents and by extension the electorate in general through quality representation and oversight functions. And at the end of it all we shall again sing and dance to the song of victory like we did in 2019,” he added,
