The Digest:
Barakat Odunuga-Bakare, former Special Adviser on Housing, has won a decisive victory over incumbent Desmond Elliot in the APC House of Assembly primary for Surulere Constituency I. Unverified tallies from one key ward showed Odunuga-Bakare polling 1,986 votes to Elliot’s 10. Elliot, a Nollywood actor seeking a fourth term, faced supporter defections and allegations of intimidation before officially withdrawing from the race. Videos of long voter queues featuring many people in northern attire sparked online debate, though defenders noted Surulere’s diverse population of Hausa traders and residents.
Key Points:
- Elliot’s withdrawal and landslide defeat mark the end of his decade‑long tenure in the Lagos Assembly.
- The primary results, once confirmed, will make Odunuga-Bakare the APC flagbearer for the 2027 election.
- Allegations of intimidation and blocked supporters raise questions about the fairness of the process.
- The heavy presence of northern voters in a Lagos constituency triggered ethnic friction online.
- Elliot’s rift with Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila appears to have cost him party support.
