Actor turned politician Desmond Elliot has rejected the outcome of the All Progressives Congress primary election for Surulere Constituency I, insisting that he would challenge the result through the party’s appeal process.
The Lagos lawmaker lost the APC ticket for another term in the Lagos State House of Assembly after Barakat Odunuga-Bakare emerged winner during Wednesday’s primary election.
Odunuga-Bakare secured a landslide victory with 11,385 votes, while Elliot polled 270 votes in the exercise. The APC candidate is believed to have the support of Femi Gbajabiamila, the Chief of Staff to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Speaking with journalists shortly after the primary, Desmond Elliot expressed disappointment with how the election was conducted. According to him, he and his supporters would not accept the process without seeking redress through the party’s internal appeal system.
He explained that politics should not be treated as a battle for survival, stressing that his interest has always been to serve the people of Surulere.
“We are appealing, and as I always say, it is not a do or die affair. I am here to serve the people. That is my home and they come to my house,” he said.
The lawmaker alleged that the primary election was affected by intimidation and violence, claiming that several of his supporters sustained injuries during the exercise.
According to him, although no lives were lost, many people were attacked and injured badly enough to require medical attention. He also claimed there were videos showing some of the affected individuals receiving treatment in hospitals.
Desmond Elliot further alleged that intimidation had been ongoing long before the election day, adding that supporters in different wards were allegedly prevented from participating freely in the process.
He claimed many of his loyalists were stopped from entering the venue where voting was taking place, a situation he described as unfair and suspicious.
The actor said he became uncomfortable with the process after discovering that most of his supporters remained outside while the exercise continued inside the venue.
He questioned the decision to allegedly end the voting process within a short period, asking how such an important exercise could be concluded in just 20 minutes.
Elliot also reacted to claims that some of the membership cards presented by his supporters were fake. According to him, proper verification should have been carried out before making such allegations.
He maintained that he never withdrew from the contest, clarifying that he only instructed his supporters and agents to stop participating because of what he described as irregularities during the election.
“The only person who can ask me to step down is the party. If the party says Desmond should step down, then I will do so because I am a loyal party member,” he stated.
