Desmond Elliot pledges to challenge outcome of Surulere APC primary election

Desmond Elliot, an actor-turned-politician, has voiced his discontent with the outcome of the All Progressives Congress primary election for Surulere Constituency I, and is set to challenge the results through the party's appeal process.

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Elliot's bid for another term in the Lagos State House of Assembly was thwarted when Barakat Odunuga-Bakare secured the APC ticket, garnering 11,385 votes, while Elliot trailed behind with 270 votes in the primary election held on Wednesday.

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Odunuga-Bakare, who is believed to have the backing of Femi Gbajabiamila, the Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, emerged victorious with a significant margin, prompting Elliot to express his dissatisfaction with the conduct of the primary.

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Speaking to journalists after the exercise, Elliot stated that he would formally contest the process through the party's internal mechanism, emphasizing that his goal is to serve the people, and that he would appeal the outcome.

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Elliot noted that the party's appeal process provides an opportunity for him to challenge the results, saying "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."

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The lawmaker alleged that the primary election was marred by intimidation and violence, with several of his supporters injured during the exercise, although he clarified that "nobody was killed, but a lot of people were really maimed."

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Elliot claimed that there is evidence of the violence, citing "videos of people going to the hospital," and expressed concern that "in different wards, people are being intimidated," which he has been speaking out against for some time.

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He also stated that many of his supporters were denied access to the venue where the voting took place, prompting him to question the legitimacy of the process.

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Elliot recalled that when he arrived at the venue, he found that "virtually all my supporters were outside," and that he was told that the voting would be stopped in 20 minutes, which he found puzzling.

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The legislator questioned allegations that some membership cards presented by his supporters were fake, asking "why would you say they are fake" without verifying them through the proper process.

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Elliot maintained that he never withdrew from the contest, explaining that he only instructed his supporters and agents to stop participating in the voting due to alleged irregularities, and that only the party can ask him to step down.

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He emphasized his commitment to the party, saying "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."