My Security Aides Withdrawn, Supporters Intimidated, Sidelined, Eliot Cries Out Ahead APC Primaries
By Akanni Toba
Desmond Elliot, lawmaker representing Surulere 1 in the Lagos legislature, may not be returning to the legislative chamber in 2027 unless there’s a last-minute reconciliation between the legislator and some influential stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in his constituency who are apparently bent on scuttling his re-election bid before the party’s house of assembly primaries slated for May 20.
This is as Eliot who has apparently fallen out of favour with the power-that-be in the APC alleged intimidation, coercion, and political victimisation against his supporters by some party leaders
Speaking in a video posted on his social media pages which has since become viral, the former Nollywood actor claimed that his supporters who cut across every walk of life have faced threats of removal from positions, and denial of future benefits if they refuse to back a preferred aspirant.
“Intimidation, coercion, twisting and forcing people to follow their own candidate is what is existing today in Surulere,” Elliot said.
“Telling them that they will not be beneficiaries of some empowerment that is coming some other time. Please, this is not done and should not be done.”
He accused the local government leadership of openly taking sides months before the primaries, describing the development as unfair and troubling.
Elliot said the level of grassroots support he has garnered appeared to have unsettled his opponents.
The Surulere representative said his security detail was withdrawn on Saturday under unclear circumstances.
“My security personnel was taken away from me yesterday for reasons best known to them. Now I am left alone to myself. What have I done?” he asked.
Elliot raised the alarm over possible violence, alleging plans to mobilise people from outside the constituency to disrupt the primaries.
He appealed to senior APC leaders to urgently investigate the situation and ensure a peaceful, transparent, and credible process.
The lawmaker said he would accept the outcome of the primary poll if the exercise is free and fair.
“By the grace of God, if I, Desmond Olusola Elliot, win, Alhamdulillah. If I lose, I will throw my support behind the winner,” he added.
He urged his supporters not to be intimidated and assured them that adequate security would be provided.
The apparent rift between Eliot and his erstwhile political godfather and former speaker of the house of representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, has made the latter to back another aspirant as his preferred candidate for the Surulere 1 seat in the Lagos legislature
According to speculations, Gbajabiamila’s anointed candidate is Barakat Odunuga-Bakare, who is a former special adviser on housing to Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Lagos governor.
Odunuga-Bakare will be giving Eliot a run for his money at the APC’s primaries in a couple of days.
Recall that Gbajabiamila, who is currently the Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, said last week that Eliot’s involvement in the failed but controversial impeachment attempt of Lagos assembly speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, in January 2025 almost cost him his job.
Though Eliot has apologised to Gbajabiamila and narrated his own side of the story, it appears the rift between the lawmaker and Tinubu’s Chief of Staff has not been settled.
