APC primary: Massive turnout as Desmond Elliot, Odunuga vote

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Photo: Desmond Elliot//Instagram

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By Ebunoluwa Sessou & Matthew Johnson

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It was a massive turnout at Alaka Housing Estate, Ward G2 in Surulere Constituency I as the All Progressives Congress (APC) commenced accreditation of members for the Lagos State House of Assembly primaries.

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The exercise, which featured incumbent lawmaker Desmond Elliot and Barakat Odunuga, attracted party faithful from different wards across the constituency.

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Speaking at the venue, the Executive Chairman of Surulere Local Government, Bamidele Yusuf, said the atmosphere remained peaceful as registration and accreditation of delegates commenced ahead of voting.

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Yusuf dismissed allegations circulating on social media regarding intimidation of party members and insisted that the process would be transparent and credible.

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The council chairman further stated that whoever emerged victorious at the end of the exercise would enjoy the support of the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.

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According to him, the APC had earlier conducted its Senate and House of Representatives primaries before moving to the House of Assembly election.

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He said: “Today is the House of Assembly election, which is the major election in Surulere because the House of Representatives and Senate primaries were unopposed.

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“We mobilised for this election and the whole place is peaceful. Since consensus was not reached, the party decided to conduct a primary election and everybody is free to vote according to his or her conscience.

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“Nobody is intimidated. Everybody is allowed to cast their votes freely. What is being circulated on social media is not true.

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“Immediately after the election, whoever wins is our candidate and we will all support the person,” he said.

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Also speaking, an APC leader in Surulere, Agboola Dabiri, described the turnout as impressive, noting that professionals, artisans and traders abandoned their daily activities to participate in the primary.

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Explaining the controversy surrounding the contest between the incumbent and the party’s preferred aspirant, Dabiri said politics remained dynamic, stressing that the primary election would ultimately determine the party’s candidate.

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“There will be a winner today, either the incumbent or the new aspirant. At the end of the day, everybody will work together for the progress of the party, regardless of the allegations of disloyalty on social media,” he said.

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“As you can see, a lot of people are here. We have teachers, doctors, engineers, market women, mechanics and several others who came out to vote.

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“There is peace in Surulere and our politics is not do-or-die. At the end of the day, there will be no problem,” he added.

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Security operatives, including personnel of the Nigeria Police Force and the Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps, were stationed at strategic points around the venue to ensure a hitch-free exercise.

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