APC Earthquake in Surulere: Barakat Odunuga-Bakare Humiliates Desmond Elliot with 11,385 Votes to 270

Follow

( 0 Followers )

X

Follow

E-mail : *

Follow Unfollow

Political tensions erupted in Lagos after Barakat Odunuga-Bakare recorded a stunning landslide victory over actor-turned-lawmaker Desmond Elliot in the All-Progressives Congress (APC) primary election for Surulere Constituency 1.

Official results from the APC primary held on May 20 showed Odunuga-Bakare polling an overwhelming 11,385 votes, while Elliot secured just 270 votes, making it one of the most dramatic defeats suffered by an incumbent lawmaker in recent Lagos political history.

The former Special Adviser on Housing, widely believed to enjoy the backing of powerful APC stakeholders including former Speaker of the House of Representatives Femi Gbajabiamila, celebrated the victory shortly after the results were announced.

In a video message to supporters, Odunuga-Bakare expressed gratitude to party members and residents of Surulere for what she described as an overwhelming show of confidence in her candidacy.

“With deep gratitude and humility, I sincerely thank the great people of Surulere Constituency 1 for the overwhelming confidence and support shown to me at the APC primaries today,” she stated.

The massive margin of victory has sparked widespread reactions across Lagos political circles, with many analysts describing it as a clear sign of shifting alliances and the enduring influence of political power brokers within the APC structure.

However, the defeat has not gone uncontested.

Desmond Elliot, who currently represents the constituency in the Lagos State House of Assembly, alleged that intimidation and irregularities marred the exercise in several wards, particularly in F2 and F3 areas.

According to Elliot, the tense atmosphere and fear of violence forced his team to withdraw agents from parts of the exercise to avoid escalation.

Speaking during an interview, the lawmaker attempted to strike a conciliatory tone, saying:

“I’ve said sorry to Gbajabiamila and he’ll cool down when he’s ready, na democracy we dey no be military regime, pikin don say sorry to papa and papa go cool down when e ready.”

Despite the remarks, Elliot later released a strongly worded statement insisting that he had not withdrawn from the race or conceded defeat.

“My decision was one of statesmanship and restraint — not a concession, withdrawal, or surrender of my candidacy,” he said.

“It is therefore misleading and inaccurate for anyone to interpret or portray my remarks as stepping down from the race. I, Desmond Elliott, remain committed to democratic principles, the rule of law, and the mandate freely given to me by the overwhelming majority of my supporters across Surulere Constituency 1.”

His media team also urged party supporters and the public to disregard what they described as false narratives surrounding the primary election while calling for fairness and transparency in the APC’s internal process.

The outcome has intensified discussions about internal democracy within the ruling APC in Lagos, particularly regarding the influence of political godfathers and endorsement politics in determining candidates.

With the primary now concluded, attention is expected to shift toward the party’s ratification process and whether aggrieved factions may challenge the outcome.

Odunuga-Bakare’s emphatic victory positions her as the likely APC candidate for Surulere Constituency 1 ahead of the next general election, although Elliot’s resistance suggests the political battle may not be over.

Political observers say the result could reshape the power balance within Surulere politics and further strengthen the dominance of key APC blocs ahead of future contests in Lagos State.