A prominent member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Desmond Elliott, has raised serious concerns, alleging political intimidation, victimisation, and the sudden withdrawal of his security detail just days before the highly anticipated All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election for Surulere I constituency.
In a viral video circulated on Sunday, Mr. Elliott, representing Surulere Constituency I, directly accused unnamed party leaders and local government officials of allegedly coercing party members to support a preferred aspirant ahead of the APC House of Assembly primaries slated for May 20th.
The actor-turned-politician further claimed that some local government officials were relieved of their duties simply because of their support for his political ambition. According to him, the political atmosphere within the Surulere chapter of the APC has become palpably tense due to these alleged acts of intimidation and attempts to force party members into backing specific candidates.
“Intimidation, coercion, twisting and forcing people to follow their own candidate is what is existing today in Surulere,” Mr. Elliott lamented in the video. He added that threats were being issued, warning members that they would “not be beneficiaries of some empowerment that is coming some other time,” a practice he vehemently condemned as unacceptable in the Nigerian political landscape.
Mr. Elliott further asserted that the local government leadership had openly taken a side, endorsing another aspirant several months before the primaries – a move he believes creates an unfair advantage. “It is bad enough that the LGA and the local government already took a side months ago. The local government already took a side to support a particular aspirant,” he stated.
He also alleged that many individuals associated with him have faced severe repercussions, including being “fired,” as a direct consequence of their political alignment with him, highlighting the often-ruthless nature of internal party politics at the grassroots level in Nigeria.
A significant point of concern for the lawmaker was the unexplained withdrawal of his security personnel. “My security personnel were taken away from me yesterday for reasons best known to them. Now I am left alone to myself. What have I done?” he queried, expressing apprehension for his safety during a period notorious for heightened political tensions.
Mr. Elliott also voiced serious concerns about potential violence during the primaries, alleging that certain individuals planned to mobilise outsiders to disrupt the democratic exercise. He claimed, “They are coming out to fight us. They want to bring people from outside and from within to cause mayhem and trouble,” a familiar challenge to the credibility of primary elections across the nation.
In light of these allegations, Mr. Elliott appealed directly to party leaders and chieftains, urging them to intervene promptly to ensure the primaries are peaceful, transparent, and credible. Despite the unsettling revelations, the lawmaker maintained that he would accept the outcome of the primaries, provided the process is genuinely free and fair. “By the grace of God, if I, Desmond Olusola Elliott, win, Alhamdulillah. If I lose, I will throw my support behind the winner. But please let it be under a free and fair election,” he declared, while also reassuring his supporters not to be intimidated and promising adequate security during the exercise.
Beyond his personal struggle, Mr. Elliott also used the video to campaign for other APC candidates, including Wasiu Eshilokun, Kadri Hamzat, and the party’s presidential standard-bearer, Bola Tinubu, demonstrating his overarching loyalty to the party.
This unfolding political drama in Surulere I follows closely on the heels of a major setback for Mr. Elliott’s campaign: Bless Koye, the Director-General of his campaign organisation, publicly announced his withdrawal of support for the lawmaker’s fourth-term bid. Mr. Koye reportedly declared his switch of allegiance to Barakat Odunuga-Bakare, another APC aspirant vying for the Surulere Constituency I seat in the Lagos State House of Assembly, stating, “I’ll decamp from Desmond group to Barakat group.” This defection underscores the fluid and often unpredictable nature of political alliances in Nigeria.
The latest controversy also emerges just days after Mr. Elliott publicly offered an apology to Femi Gbajabiamila, the Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, concerning his alleged involvement in moves to impeach Lagos Assembly Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa. Mr. Gbajabiamila had revealed that he almost lost his influential position as Chief of Staff due to Mr. Elliott’s alleged role in the impeachment plot, a claim he initially denied until the State Security Service (SSS) reportedly confirmed it to President Tinubu.
Reacting during an appearance on TVC’s Your View, Mr. Elliott expressed deep regret and apologised to his political mentor. “The Gbaja this and Gbaja that of the world. My own baba. I know you’re upset, and I want to say I’m sorry in front of everyone,” he stated, adding, “And I grew up learning everything I knew in politics through him.” Throughout these controversies and apologies, Mr. Elliott has consistently hinted at his ambition to seek another term in the Lagos Assembly, showcasing his resolve despite the political turbulence.
Originally sourced from Premium Times. This article has been rewritten for our readers.
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