Actor and politician Desmond Elliot has rejected the outcome of the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election for Surulere Constituency I and says he will challenge the result through the party’s appeal process.
Elliot lost the ticket for another term in the Lagos State House of Assembly after Barakat Odunuga-Bakare defeated him in Wednesday’s primary election.
Odunuga-Bakare, who is believed to have the backing of the Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, secured 11,385 votes, while Elliot polled 270 votes.
The primary was conducted under the All Progressives Congress All Progressives Congress in Surulere Constituency I.
Speaking with journalists after the exercise, Elliot said he was not satisfied with the conduct of the primary and insisted he would make use of the party’s internal appeal structure.
“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.
He alleged that the exercise was affected by intimidation and violence, claiming that some 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.
“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 said many of his supporters were not allowed into the voting venue.
“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?’” he said.
“The next thing I heard is that in 20 minutes they’re going to stop. How can you stop in 20 minutes?” he queried.
He also questioned claims that some membership cards presented by his supporters were fake, saying the verification process was not properly done.
“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 contest but instructed his supporters and agents to stop participating due to 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.
Lagos State House of Assembly lawmaker Desmond Elliot has represented Surulere Constituency I in previous terms and is a former Nollywood actor who transitioned into politics under the APC.
