Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The three‑term lawmaker representing Surulere Constituency I in the Lagos State House of Assembly, Desmond Elliot, has formally rejected the outcome of the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election for his seat, vowing to challenge the process through the party’s internal appeal mechanism after losing his bid for a fourth term in a landslide victory to Barakat Odunuga‑Bakare, a candidate widely reported to have the backing of President Bola Tinubu’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila. The primary, held on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, at the Paddington mini stadium along Western Avenue in Surulere, was marked by sharp divisions and dramatic scenes, including Elliot’s temporary withdrawal of his agents and supporters over alleged irregularities. According to official results announced by the party, Odunuga‑Bakare polled 11,385 votes across the constituency, while Elliot secured only 270 votes.
The outcome represents a stunning reversal of political fortunes for Elliot, a Nollywood actor‑turned‑politician who was first elected to the Lagos State House of Assembly in 2015 and has represented Surulere I for three consecutive terms. He was the last remaining challenger to Odunuga‑Bakare after several other aspirants stepped down in her favour in the days before the primary. The margin of defeat was so wide that in several wards, including Owolewa Open Field off Randle Avenue, Odunuga‑Bakare secured 1,956 votes against Elliot’s 10, while at Akinhanmi/Cole Ward she polled 2,191 votes compared to his 82. Elliot’s strongest showing came in Shitta/Ogunlana Ward, where he managed 270 votes against Odunuga‑Bakare’s 169.
Speaking to reporters shortly after the result was announced, Elliot did not mince words. “We are not accepting this process,” he declared. He alleged that the primary was marred by widespread intimidation, violence, and the deliberate disenfranchisement of his supporters. He claimed that many of his loyal party members were locked out of the polling venue before voting could commence, and that the accreditation and voting windows were artificially shortened to just 20 minutes. “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.
Elliot further alleged that some of his supporters sustained injuries during the exercise. “Nobody was killed. But a lot of people were really maimed. There are videos of people going to the hospital,” he said. He also rejected claims that some of his supporters presented fake membership cards, arguing that authenticity can only be determined through the verification process. “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.
Crucially, Elliot sought to clarify conflicting reports that he had withdrawn from the race altogether. He insisted that he never stepped down as a candidate. “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. He explained that his earlier announcement of withdrawal referred only to his agents and supporters, whom he instructed to stop participating in the voting process due to alleged irregularities. “Why I said withdraw then is that I’m withdrawing my agents from participating in the voting process. But we are appealing the process. We are definitely appealing,” he stated.
Elliot emphasised that his commitment to the APC and to the people of Surulere remains unshaken. “It is not a do‑or‑die affair. I’m here to serve the people. That’s my home. They come to my house,” he said. He confirmed that he would formally file a petition with the party’s primary appeal committee, arguing that the process that produced Odunuga‑Bakare was neither free nor fair. “The party has also, in its magnanimity, given us an opportunity to appeal,” he noted.
On the other side of the contest, Odunuga‑Bakare, a former Special Adviser on Housing to Governor Babajide Sanwo‑Olu, had declared as early as May 18 that only Elliot remained as her challenger. She called on party members to turn out in large numbers and assured them of a free and fair exercise. In a statement, she urged unity after the primary, saying, “Whoever emerges, whether it is me or not, should be supported, and we should work for that person.”
Gbajabiamila, who voted in his own Ward G2 at Alaka Housing Estate, expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the election, describing it as “peaceful, fair, credible, and orderly.” He noted that feedback from other wards indicated that the exercise was similarly transparent. His endorsement of the process, coupled with his reported backing of Odunuga‑Bakare, has fuelled speculation about the role of the presidency in the primary outcome.
The APC has not officially responded to Elliot’s allegations, but the party’s appeal committee is expected to review the petition in the coming days. If the appeal is unsuccessful, Elliot may face the difficult choice of either accepting the result or seeking redress in court, a path that could further fragment the party in Surulere ahead of the 2027 general elections.
For now, the man who has represented Surulere I for over a decade is refusing to accept defeat quietly. Whether his appeal will overturn a 11,385‑to‑270 landslide remains uncertain, but in a party where loyalty is often rewarded, his insistence on due process may yet yield a different kind of political currency.
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