Barakat Bakare-Odunuga, a former Special Adviser on Housing to Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has stated that only Desmond Elliott refused to step down for her in the race for the All Progressives Congress (APC) ticket for Surulere Constituency I in the Lagos State House of Assembly. She made the remarks in an interview published on May 18, 2026, according to local reports.
Bakare-Odunuga, who is seeking the APC nomination for the 2027 elections, claimed that other aspirants agreed to withdraw from the contest to support her candidacy. She specifically named Elliott as the sole holdout, alleging that he insisted on remaining in the race despite appeals from party stakeholders.
The former adviser did not provide details on the number of aspirants involved or the specific timeline of the negotiations. The APC has not officially commented on the claims, and Desmond Elliott has not publicly responded as of the report's publication.
Surulere Constituency I is a key political district in Lagos State, and the APC primary is expected to be competitive. Bakare-Odunuga's assertion highlights internal party dynamics ahead of the 2027 general elections.
