Desmond Elliot rejects APC primary result, vows to challenge process

Lagos State lawmaker, Desmond Elliot, has rejected the outcome of the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election for Surulere Constituency I, insisting that he will challenge the process through the party’s appeal mechanism.

Elliot lost the APC ticket for a return to the Lagos State House of Assembly after Barakat Odunuga-Bakare emerged winner in Wednesday’s primary election. Odunuga-Bakare, believed to have the backing of the Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, polled 11,385 votes, while Elliot secured 270 votes.

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Elliot said he was dissatisfied with the conduct of the primary and would formally appeal.

“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,” he said.

The lawmaker alleged that violence and intimidation marred the exercise, claiming that several of his supporters sustained injuries during the primary.

“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,” he added.

Elliot also alleged that many of his supporters were denied access to the voting venues.

“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?” he queried.

The lawmaker further questioned claims that some membership cards presented by his supporters were fake.

“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?” he asked.

Elliot said he never withdrew from the race, explaining that he only directed his supporters and agents to stop participating in the voting process over 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, the actor-turned-politician said he remains committed to the APC and the people of Surulere Constituency.