How BBA Turned Surulere Upside Down
A dramatic political upset has reshaped the landscape of Surulere Constituency I in Lagos State. Barrister Barakat Olawunmi Odunuga-Bakare, popularly known as BBA, decisively defeated veteran Nollywood actor and three-term incumbent lawmaker Desmond Elliot in the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary held on May 20, 2026. The final vote tally was a staggering 11,385 votes for BBA against Elliot's 270 votes, with BBA sweeping every single ward in the constituency. In one ward, Gbaja/Stadium, Elliot received zero votes despite representing the area for eleven years.
BBA, a legal practitioner and former Special Adviser on Housing to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, leveraged her deep grassroots connections and the powerful political backing of Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to the President and the undisputed godfather of Surulere. Her coalition included market women, youth groups, artisans, the Christian Association of Nigeria, auto technicians, and disability groups. She also secured endorsements from key political figures like Fuad Laguda and Idris Aregbe, leaving Elliot isolated.
The primary campaign was marked by high drama. Elliot's campaign director resigned and joined BBA's camp days before the vote. Elliot took to social media to allege intimidation and denial of accreditation for his supporters. BBA, meanwhile, appeared on TVC's Your View, challenging Elliot's legislative record and expressing confidence in her victory.
The ward-by-ward results underscored BBA's dominance: Shitta/Ogunlana (Elliot 169, BBA 3,900), Akinhanmi/Cole (Elliot 82, BBA 2,191), Adeniran/Ogunsanya (Elliot 10, BBA 1,986), Iponri/Eric Moore (Elliot 0, BBA 1,805), Yaba/Ojuelegba (Elliot 0, BBA 980), and Gbaja/Stadium (Elliot 0, BBA 523). With this victory, BBA has secured the APC ticket for the 2027 general elections, positioning herself as the new political force in Surulere.
