Desmond Elliot Rejects APC Primary Defeat, Alleges Intimidation and Irregularities in Surulere Poll

Lawmaker representing Surulere Constituency I in the Lagos State House of Assembly, Desmond Elliot, has rejected the outcome of the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election, vowing to challenge the process through the party’s appeal mechanism.

The APC primary, held on Wednesday, saw Barakat Odunuga-Bakare emerge victorious with 11,385 votes, defeating Elliot, who polled 270 votes. Odunuga-Bakare is widely believed to have the backing of Femi Gbajabiamila.

Speaking with reporters after the exercise, Elliot expressed dissatisfaction with the conduct of the primary, insisting that the process was flawed and unacceptable.

“We are appealing, and as I say, it is not a do-or-die affair. I’m here to serve the people. That’s my home,” he stated.

The actor-turned-politician alleged that violence and intimidation marred the election, claiming that several of his supporters were injured during the exercise.

“Nobody was killed, but a lot of people were maimed. There are videos of people going to the hospital,” he said, adding that intimidation had become a recurring issue in the constituency’s political process.

Elliot further alleged that many of his supporters were prevented from accessing the voting venue, questioning the credibility of the process.

“When I entered, I discovered that virtually all my supporters were outside. I kept asking why they were not being allowed in,” he said.

He also criticised the decision to end voting within a short period, arguing that the process lacked transparency and fairness.

“The next thing I heard was that in 20 minutes they were going to stop. How can you stop in 20 minutes?” he queried.

The lawmaker also dismissed claims that membership cards presented by his supporters were fake, insisting that proper verification procedures were not followed before the cards were rejected.

According to Elliot, he never withdrew from the race, clarifying that he only instructed his supporters and agents to stop participating in the exercise due to the alleged irregularities.

“The only person who can ask me to step down is the party. If the party says Desmond go down, that is when I will step down because I’m a party person,” he said.

Despite the controversy surrounding the primary election, Elliot reaffirmed his loyalty to the APC and his commitment to serving the people of Surulere Constituency I.