The lawmaker representing Surulere I Constituency in the Lagos State House of Assembly, Desmond Elliot, has lost his bid for another term after suffering a major defeat in the All Progressives Congress, APC, direct primary election held in Lagos State.
According to the result announced after the exercise, Barakat Odunuga-Bakare defeated the three-term lawmaker by a wide margin to secure the APC ticket for Surulere I Constituency ahead of the next general election.
The result showed that Barakat Odunuga-Bakare polled 11,385 votes, while Desmond Elliot scored only 270 votes.
The outcome marked a dramatic political setback for Elliot, who has represented Surulere I in the Lagos State House of Assembly since 2015 and was seeking a fourth consecutive term in office under the ruling APC.
The primary election attracted widespread attention because of growing political tension within the Surulere APC structure in recent weeks.
Earlier on Wednesday, Elliot had announced his withdrawal from the race, alleging intimidation and denial of access to many of his supporters during the exercise.
Speaking at the venue of the primary election before the result emerged, the actor-turned-politician accused some party members of frustrating his supporters and preventing them from participating in the voting process.
“And of course, in all zones, they’ve been intimidating and stopping us. I want to officially announce my withdrawal from this particular race,” Elliot had said.
“This is my ward. If you go outside, those are my people outside. They’ve not been allowed,” he added.
Despite his withdrawal announcement, the election continued and the final result later confirmed a landslide victory for Odunuga-Bakare.
The victory is being seen by many political observers as a major shift in the political structure of Surulere and a sign of changing influence within the Lagos APC.
Odunuga-Bakare, who is believed to enjoy the backing of powerful figures within the party, emerged as the preferred candidate of the APC leadership in the constituency.
Her victory also highlights the growing influence of women in Lagos politics, especially within the ruling party.
Although she has remained relatively less prominent nationally compared to Elliot, her emergence as the APC candidate places her in a strong position ahead of the general election, considering the dominance of the APC in Lagos State politics.
Desmond Elliot entered politics after building a successful career in Nigeria’s movie industry.
Before contesting elections, he was widely known as one of Nollywood’s popular actors, producers and directors.
In 2015, he won election into the Lagos State House of Assembly during the administration of former governor Akinwunmi Ambode and later secured re-election in subsequent elections.
Over the years, Elliot became one of the most recognised entertainers in Nigerian politics.
However, his political journey has also attracted criticism and controversy at different times.
One of the biggest moments that brought him under public attention was during the 2020 EndSARS protests when a video of his comments at the Lagos State House of Assembly went viral.
In the video, Elliot criticized the role of social media in society, a statement that drew strong backlash from many young Nigerians who accused him of being disconnected from the realities facing the youth.
Despite the criticism, he retained political relevance within the APC and continued to represent Surulere I in the Assembly.
The latest primary election, however, appears to have exposed deeper divisions within the party in the constituency.
Reports of friction within the local party structure had surfaced in recent weeks, especially ahead of the APC primaries in Lagos State.
Earlier during the primary exercise, the Chief of Staff to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, described the APC primary in Surulere as peaceful, fair and orderly.
Gbajabiamila, who is an influential political figure in Surulere and former Speaker of the House of Representatives, praised the conduct of party members and electoral officials during the process.
However, Elliot’s supporters maintained that many party loyalists were prevented from participating fully in the exercise.
Following his withdrawal announcement, some of his supporters staged a peaceful protest before leaving the venue alongside the lawmaker.
Internal disputes during party primaries are common in Nigerian politics, especially in states where competition for tickets is intense.
In Lagos State, the APC remains the dominant political party, making its primaries highly competitive because securing the party ticket is often viewed as a strong advantage ahead of general elections.
The result has also generated widespread reactions on social media, where supporters and critics of Elliot debated the significance of his defeat.
While some described the outcome as the end of an era for the actor-politician in the Lagos Assembly, others argued that it reflected the changing nature of grassroots politics within the APC.
As of Wednesday evening, Desmond Elliot had not officially reacted to the final result beyond his earlier withdrawal statement.
Attention is now expected to shift to the general election campaign as Barakat Odunuga-Bakare prepares to fly the APC flag for Surulere I Constituency.