Lagos Group Alleges Plot To Disrupt APC State Assembly Primaries In Surulere

A political pressure group, Surulere Accountability Front (SAF), has alleged that the embattled lawmaker representing Surulere Constituency I in the Lagos State House of Assembly, Desmond Elliott, was plotting to disrupt Wednesday’s All Progressives Congress (APC) primaries in the constituency.

In a statement issued on Tuesday by its Chairman, Mr Olanrewaju Badmus, the group accused Elliott of allegedly bringing non-residents into Surulere ahead of the exercise in an attempt to influence the outcome across the six wards where voting will take place.

It further claimed that the alleged plan involved creating chaos through violence and gunshots in a bid to intimidate voters and push the election towards an inconclusive result.

“We have confirmed information that Desmond Elliott, in desperation, has flooded Surulere 1 with non-Surulere people ahead of tomorrow’s primaries across all six wards where voting will take place.

“They allegedly plan to use gunshots to scare voters away and let the primary election become inconclusive, believing he will then be called for negotiation.

“We will not negotiate our representation with someone who has shown desperation, greed, disrespect for the organised Tinubu political structure in Lagos and lust for power,” the statement said.

The group also alleged that some of those brought into the area were being lodged in hotels, church and mosque halls, an OPC office in Ward G, as well as market spaces within the constituency.

It added that some youths in the area had earlier moved to chase out suspected outsiders from Lawanson Market, urging residents and party members to remain vigilant during the primaries.

“This is not the behaviour of a man who believes he can win. He wants to create chaos and then run to his media friends to claim he was rigged out.

“Do not give him that excuse. Know your ward members. If someone cannot be accounted for in your ward, reject them calmly and report immediately to party officials and security personnel on ground,” the group said.

The group also urged party members not to be distracted by social media narratives, insisting that elections are won through grassroots mobilisation and participation.

It added that security agencies had assured full deployment across all six wards, with strict accreditation processes expected during the primaries.

The group further declared support for the APC’s gender inclusion policy and endorsed Mrs Barakat Odunuga-Bakare as its preferred candidate for the constituency ticket.

It would be recalled that Surulere Constituency I is regarded as one of the major flashpoints ahead of Wednesday’s APC primaries.

Odunuga-Bakare is expected to contest against Elliott, who is seeking a fourth term in the Lagos State House of Assembly.