Desmond Elliot has rejected the result of the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election for Surulere Constituency I after losing the party’s ticket for another term in the Lagos State House of Assembly.
The actor-turned-politician was defeated by Barakat Odunuga-Bakare, who emerged winner of the primary election held on Wednesday. Odunuga-Bakare reportedly secured 11,385 votes, while Elliot polled 270 votes in the exercise said to be influenced by supporters of Femi Gbajabiamila.
Reacting after the election, Desmond Elliot made it clear that he would not accept the outcome of the process, revealing plans to challenge the exercise through the party’s appeal channel.
“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. They come to my house. So, I’m not going to say any more than this, other than the fact that we are not accepting this process. But the party has also, in its magnanimity, given us an opportunity to appeal.”
Elliot further alleged that the primary election was marred by intimidation and violence, claiming that several of his supporters were attacked and injured during the exercise.
“Nobody was killed. But a lot of people were really maimed. There are videos of people going to the hospital. This is just primaries. It is not a do-or-die affair. In different wards, people are being intimidated. I have been talking about intimidation for a long time.”
According to him, many of his loyalists were prevented from gaining access to the voting venue, a development he said affected the credibility of the process.
“Why I decided to say I was not going to accept the process was because when I entered, I discovered that virtually all my supporters were outside, and I kept asking, ‘Why were they not coming in?’ The next thing I heard is that in 20 minutes they’re going to stop. How can you stop in 20 minutes?”
The lawmaker also dismissed claims that some of the membership cards presented by his supporters were fake, insisting proper verification should have been allowed before any conclusion was reached.
“I was hearing that the cards were fake. The only way you can verify if a card is fake is when they go through the verification process and allow them to do that process. So why would you say they are fake?”
Desmond Elliot clarified that he never stepped down from the race, stating that he only instructed his supporters and agents to withdraw from the voting process because of 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.”
Despite his dissatisfaction with the primary election, the politician maintained that he remains loyal to the APC and committed to serving the people of Surulere Constituency I.
