It was a mix of calm praise and heated drama in Surulere as APC’s House of Assembly primaries played out, with Femi Gbajabiamila applauding the process while Desmond Elliott dramatically pulled out, alleging intimidation of his supporters.

According to reports from cbinews.tv, the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, has described the All Progressives Congress (APC) House of Assembly primary election in Surulere Constituency I, Lagos State, as peaceful, fair, and orderly.

Gbajabiamila made the remarks on Wednesday after casting his vote at Ward G2 (Adeniran Ogunsanya Ward 5), located at Alaka Housing Estate in Surulere. Speaking with journalists, he said he was pleased with the conduct of party members and the calm atmosphere throughout the exercise.

“This is my ward… whenever I come here to vote, I always look out for peaceful, fair, credible and orderly elections, and that is exactly what I have seen today,” he said.

He also noted that voter turnout was impressive, especially considering it was a party primary, adding that reports from other wards suggested the process was smooth across the constituency.

However, the mood shifted when incumbent lawmaker Desmond Elliott announced his withdrawal from the race at the Paddington Mini Stadium on Western Avenue, where the primaries were taking place.

Elliott, an actor-turned-politician, alleged that his supporters were intimidated and denied access to the polling venue despite repeated appeals to electoral officers.

“I want to officially announce my withdrawal from this particular race,” he said, claiming his supporters were being stopped and restricted from entering the venue.

Following his withdrawal, some of his supporters staged a peaceful protest before leaving the area alongside him.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Leaders Forum in Ward G2, Mr Ekundayo Decker, maintained that the exercise reflected strong internal democracy within the APC, insisting the voting process was smooth and without disruption.

“There was no fight, there was nothing, no problem,” he said, urging all aspirants to accept the outcome in good faith and show sportsmanship.

Surulere Constituency I has become a key flashpoint in the APC primaries, especially with Gbajabiamila backing aspirant Barakat Odunuga-Bakare, who is challenging Elliott, a three-term incumbent seeking a fourth term in the Lagos State House of Assembly. Tensions had reportedly been building in the lead-up to the exercise.

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