- Safiu Kehinde
Lagos State House of Assembly lawmaker, Desmond Elliot, has revealed reasons behind his decision to withdraw from the APC State Assembly primaries. during the voting exercise.
NPO Reported that Elliot had in the middle of the election yesterday announced his withdrawal from the race.
In a video shared on X on Wednesday, the lawmaker representing Surulere Constituency I accused the party of intimidation as he alleged that his supporters were denied entry into the voting centre.
Addressing newsmen after the conclusion of the exercise which saw his opponent, Barakat Bakare-Odunuga emerged winner, Elliott cited the harassment and intimidation of his supporters as reason behind his decision.
He alleged that outsiders and thugs were brought to the constituency to harass his supporters, adding his editor was beaten to stupor and hospitalised during the voting exercise.
“If you want to lose, lose gallantly. But you brought people and they broke people’s faces, glasses. It was a sham. The intimidation was too much.
“It was not a peaceful process at all. I’ve been screaming since that my security personnel were taken from me. I also said intimidation and sacking people from work.
“They beat my editor to stupor. He is in the hospital right now.
“It is a very crazy process just for primaries. They brought people from outside to come and harass just normal people who came to vote.
“The thugs were brought in and were chasing people away from exercising their civic responsibility.” He said.
Elliott further alleged that his supporters were accused of possession fake membership cards without allowing them to go through the verification process.
“My people were outside. They didn’t allow them in, claiming that they have fake cards. How can you verify that they fake slips without allowing them to go through the verification process.
“That was I had to take up the mic and say I was going to withdraw from this process.” He added.
The lawmaker vowed to appeal the result of the elecion.
Meanwhile, in a post shared on his Instagram handle, Elliott maintained that his withdrawal was one of statesmanship and restraint.
He reaffirmed his commitment to democratic principles and rule of law while charging members of the public and party stakeholders to disregard narratives surrounding his withdrawal.
“We call on party members, stakeholders, and the general public to disregard false narratives and remain focused on the need for transparency, fairness, and justice in the electoral process.
“At this critical moment, it is imperative that the integrity of the primary election process be upheld and that every legitimate supporter and delegate is allowed to participate freely, without intimidation or obstruction.” He wrote.