Desmond Elliot Rejects Lagos 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, announcing his intention to challenge the process through the party's internal appeal mechanism.

Elliot lost the APC ticket for a return to the Lagos State House of Assembly after Barakat Odunuga-Bakare defeated him in Wednesday's primary.

Odunuga-Bakare, who is believed to have the backing of President Bola Tinubu's Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, secured 11,385 votes, while Elliot managed only 270 votes.

Speaking with reporters after the result, Elliot expressed dissatisfaction with the conduct of the exercise.

"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," he said. He added that while the party has graciously provided an avenue for appeal, he and his team are not accepting the process as conducted.

Elliot alleged that the primary was plagued by violence and intimidation, claiming several of his supporters were injured. "Nobody was killed. But a lot of people were really maimed.

There are videos of people going to the hospital," he stated, noting that such tactics have no place in party primaries.

He further claimed that many of his supporters were barred from entering voting venues.

According to Elliot, he noticed upon arrival that virtually all his supporters were locked outside. He also questioned why voting was scheduled to stop within just 20 minutes, calling the timeframe unreasonable.

The lawmaker also disputed claims that some membership cards presented by his supporters were fake.

He argued that the only proper way to verify a card's authenticity is through the official verification process, and that supporters should have been allowed to go through that procedure.

Elliot made it clear that he never withdrew from the race, explaining that he only instructed his supporters and agents to stop participating due to widespread 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 emphasized.

Despite the controversial outcome, Elliot reaffirmed his commitment to both the APC and the people of Surulere Constituency.