A former Special Adviser to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Housing, Barakat Odunuga-Bakare, has defeated actor-turned-politician, Desmond Elliot, for the ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Surulere Constituency I in the Lagos State House of Assembly.
Odunuga-Bakare, who was reportedly backed by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, secured a landslide victory in the exercise. She polled 11,385 votes across the constituency to defeat Elliot, who garnered 270 votes.
The primary witnessed a large turnout of APC members, with results from several wards showing overwhelming support for Odunuga-Bakare.
At Akinhanmi/Cole Ward, she secured 2,191 votes against Elliot’s 82 votes, while in Yaba/Ojuelegba Ward, she polled 980 votes as Elliot managed only three votes. She also recorded 523 votes at Gbaja Stadium Ward, where Elliot failed to secure any vote.
Elliot’s strongest showing came at Shitta/Ogunlana Ward, where he polled 270 votes against Odunuga-Bakare’s 169 votes.
At Owolewa Open Field, Off Randle Avenue, Odunuga-Bakare secured 1,956 votes while Elliot got 10 votes. In Iponri/Eric Moore Ward, she polled 1,805 votes against Elliot’s six votes.
The defeat means Elliot has lost his bid to return to the Assembly. Earlier, Elliot rejected the process, insisting that he did not withdraw from the contest but only pulled out his agents over alleged intimidation and irregularities.
Speaking with journalists, the lawmaker said he remained loyal to the APC and was pursuing an appeal over the conduct of the primary.
“I’m a party person. This is my home,” Elliot said. “I’m not going to say any more than the fact that we are not accepting this process. I’m withdrawing my agent from going to participate in the voting process, but we are appealing the process.”
