Dare Babalola
Alabi Opeyemi Oladimeji, an aide to the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has criticised Desmond Elliot over a video protesting the conduct of the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary in Surulere Constituency I, accusing the lawmaker of attempting to disparage the same party that brought him political relevance.
In a Facebook post on Wednesday, Oladimeji faulted Elliot’s reaction to the outcome and allegations surrounding the primary process, insisting that the same electoral system the lawmaker criticised was one he had benefited from over the years.
“The video made by Desmond Elliot to disparage the party was unnecessary. The same primaries you claimed your people were blocked from are the same primaries you have participated in and won for years,” he wrote.
Questioning claims that Elliot’s supporters were deliberately prevented from participating, the Lagos government aide asked how the individuals were allegedly identified.
“How exactly were your supporters identified and stopped? Did they have special tattoos?” he queried.
Oladimeji further stated that while every aspirant had the right to contest, public attacks against the party were unfair.
“Everyone has the right to contest, but trying to bring down the same party that gave you political relevance is unfair and purely theatrical. Political disagreements should be handled with maturity, not public drama,” he added.
His comments followed a video released by Elliot after tension reportedly marred the APC primary election in Surulere Constituency I on Wednesday.
The lawmaker had clarified that he did not withdraw from the contest, contrary to reports circulating online, but only pulled out his agents from the voting venue over alleged intimidation and irregularities.
Speaking with journalists, Elliot said he remained loyal to the party and was pursuing an appeal over the conduct of the exercise.
“I’m a party person. This is my home,” Elliot said. “I’m not going to say any more than the fact that we are not accepting this process. I’m withdrawing my agent from going to participate in the voting process, but we are appealing the process.”
The actor-turned-politician alleged that some of his supporters were prevented from accessing the venue and claimed several persons sustained injuries during the exercise.
“When I entered, I discovered that all my supporters were outside. They weren’t being allowed in. The next thing I heard was that in 20 minutes they were going to stop the process. How can you stop in 20 minutes?” he asked.
Elliot also accused unnamed individuals of intimidating party members despite allegedly having control of the party structure.
“You have the machinery and the structure with you. I don’t have the structure, you have everything with you. Then why are you scared? Why don’t you just go to the field?” he said.
The APC primary was eventually won by Barakat Odunuga-Bakare, who defeated the incumbent lawmaker to secure the party’s ticket for the constituency.
