Actor-turned-politician Desmond Elliot officially announced his withdrawal from the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election for the Surulere I constituency seat in the Lagos State House of Assembly. The announcement was made on Wednesday at the Paddington Mini Stadium along Western Avenue, the venue for the APC primary election.

Elliot cited alleged intimidation and the exclusion of his supporters from the voting venue as the primary reasons for his decision. In a video shared on his X handle, he stated that repeated appeals to electoral officials to grant his supporters access to the venue were ignored, leaving him with no option but to step down from the race. He emphasized, "And of course, in all zones, they’ve been intimidating and stopping us. I want to officially announce my withdrawal from this particular race. This is my ward. If you go outside, those are my people outside."

He further elaborated on the issue, asserting that many individuals supporting him were denied entry despite various attempts to resolve the situation. Following his declaration, his supporters organized a peaceful protest before departing the venue alongside him. As he exited the primary grounds, Elliot addressed party members, saying, "Good luck. Thank you, and God bless you."

Elliot clarified that his withdrawal was a precautionary measure intended to avert any potential breakdown of law and order, stressing his belief that political contests should never escalate into violence or result in loss of lives. Furthermore, he urged the leadership of the APC to uphold transparency and fairness in the conduct of all primary elections across Lagos State.