Desmond Elliot, the incumbent lawmaker representing Surulere 1 in the Lagos State House of Assembly, has raised serious allegations of intimidation, coercion, and political victimisation ahead of the All Progressives Congress (APC) house of assembly primaries scheduled for May 20. In a video shared across his social media platforms, the actor-turned-politician accused certain APC leaders and local government officials within Surulere of actively threatening party members who support his re-election bid. Elliot explicitly stated, “Intimidation, coercion, twisting and forcing people to follow their own candidate is what is existing today in Surulere,” adding that these tactics involve threatening supporters with exclusion from future empowerment opportunities.

Elliot further alleged a blatant display of partisanship from the local government leadership, which he described as unfair, claiming they had openly sided with another aspirant months prior to the primaries. He also asserted that his growing grassroots support appeared to have unsettled his political opponents within the constituency. Beyond threats to empowerment, Elliot claimed that some local government workers had allegedly lost their jobs solely due to their political association with him, an action he deemed unacceptable within the party.

Adding to his concerns, the Surulere lawmaker disclosed that his security aides were inexplicably withdrawn, leaving him vulnerable. “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, highlighting his worries about personal safety. He also voiced apprehension regarding potential violence during the primaries, alleging plans to mobilise individuals from outside Surulere to disrupt the electoral process and cause mayhem.

In light of these developments, Elliot appealed earnestly to senior APC leaders to intervene and ensure that the primaries are conducted peacefully, transparently, and credibly. He reaffirmed his commitment to accept the outcome of the election, provided the process is 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 stated, while simultaneously urging his loyal supporters not to be intimidated and assuring them of maximum security on the day of the exercise.

Elliot is currently contesting against Barakat Odunuga-Bakare, who previously served as the Special Adviser on Housing to Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu. Odunuga-Bakare has reportedly secured significant endorsements from several key APC stakeholders in Surulere, most notably from the former Speaker of the House of Representatives and current Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila.

This political friction comes days after Desmond Elliot publicly apologised to Femi Gbajabiamila, acknowledging that he might have caused offence during past political disagreements, particularly those linked to the Lagos State House of Assembly crisis. Gbajabiamila had previously claimed that allegations linking Elliot to the leadership crisis involving Speaker Mudashiru Obasa nearly cost him his position as Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu. Elliot’s apology on TVC’s Your View, where he stated, “To err is human, to forgive is divine. So I’m sorry, my daddy, if I’ve offended you in any way,” underscores the underlying political tensions within the party hierarchy.