₦airaland Forum

“The others stepped down and are supporting me and they’re all here, but the only person that didn’t step down and insisted on going to the primaries is Hon. Desmond Elliot. I wish him all the best, and I wish myself luck too. I’m praying that on Wednesday, I emerge as the APC candidate for the Lagos State House of Assembly, Surulere Constituency I.”

—Hon Barakat Odunuga Bakare during her official declaration to contest for the Lagos State House of Assembly seat, Surulere Constituency I.

“The others stepped down and are supporting me and they’re all here, but the only person that didn’t step down and insisted on going to the primaries is Hon. Desmond Elliot. I wish him all the best, and I wish myself luck too. I’m praying that on Wednesday, I emerge as the APC… pic.twitter.com/rV3lDWiqbl

— Lagos Junction (@LagosJunction) May 17, 2026

Warm greetings to all Surulerians and everyone at large. First off i want to say a very big thank you to our party leadership and most especially to our President, His Excellency President @officialABAT for allowing all candidates to test their popularity in their respective… pic.twitter.com/TkjCqP0UFM

— Desmond Elliot (@DesmondOElliot) May 17, 2026

Gotocourt:
Desmond Elliott is now an emergency activist

b0rn2fuck:
Greedy and selfish Desmond Elliot, he wan continue like those Africa leaders that lasted 30 years in office, na like this Dem dey start

Desmond Elliott alleges intimidation, withdrawal of security aides ahead of Surulere APC primaries

A member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Desmond Elliott, has alleged intimidation, political victimisation and the withdrawal of his security aides ahead of the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election for Surulere I constituency.

In a viral video circulated on Sunday, Mr Elliott 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 scheduled for 20 May.

The lawmaker, who represents Surulere Constituency I in the Lagos State House of Assembly, alleged that some local government officials were removed from their positions because of their support for him.

According to him, the political atmosphere within the Surulere chapter of the APC had become tense due to alleged intimidation and attempts to force party members to support certain candidates.

“Intimidation, coercion, twisting and forcing people to follow their own candidate is what is existing today in Surulere,” Mr Elliott said in the video.

“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.”

The actor turned politician alleged that the local government leadership had openly backed another aspirant months before the primaries.

“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.

Mr Elliott also claimed that several individuals associated with him had allegedly suffered repercussions because of their political alignment.

“We’ve been intimidated so much so that a lot of people from the local government have been fired because they follow me,” he alleged.

The lawmaker further alleged that his security personnel were withdrawn under unclear circumstances.

“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.

He also raised concerns over possible violence during the primaries, alleging that some persons planned to mobilise outsiders to disrupt the exercise.

“They are coming out to fight us. They want to bring people from outside and from within to cause mayhem and trouble,” he alleged.

Mr Elliott appealed to party leaders to intervene and ensure that the primaries are peaceful, transparent and credible.

“I want to ask our party chieftains, please investigate this matter,” he said.

Despite the allegations, the lawmaker said he would accept the outcome of the primaries if the process is 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 added.

He also urged his supporters not to be intimidated, assuring them that adequate security would be provided during the exercise.

Mr Elliott further used the video to campaign for other APC candidates, including Wasiu Eshilokun, Kadri Hamzat and Bola Tinubu.

Earlier, the Director-General of the Desmond Elliott Campaign Organisation, Bless Koye, announced his withdrawal of support for the lawmaker’s fourth-term bid.

Mr Koye declared his support for Barakat Odunuga-Bakare, an APC aspirant for Surulere Constituency I in the Lagos State House of Assembly.

“I’ll decamp from Desmond group to Barakat group,” Mr Koye reportedly said while announcing his decision.

Background
The latest controversy comes days after Mr Elliott publicly apologised to Femi Gbajabiamila over his alleged involvement in moves to impeach Lagos Assembly Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa.

Mr Gbajabiamila had claimed that he nearly lost his position as Chief of Staff to President Tinubu because of Mr Elliott’s alleged role in the impeachment plot.

According to reports, Mr Gbajabiamila said President Tinubu informed him about Mr Elliott’s alleged involvement, which he initially denied until the State Security Service (SSS) reportedly confirmed it.

Reacting during an appearance on TVC’s Your View, Mr Elliott apologised to the president’s chief of staff, describing him as 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 said.

“And I grew up learning everything I knew in politics through him.”

Mr Elliott also hinted during the interview that he was seeking another term in the Lagos Assembly.

donleo92:
Desmond na sore loser...

The guy no won let go of the honourable enjoyment

What can he say he has done for the people of his constituency??

Anyway, make him go contest for councillorship

Cmanforall:
Did you not see the toilet he constructed?

donleo92:
Desmond na sore loser...

The guy no won let go of the honourable enjoyment

What can he say he has done for the people of his constituency??

Anyway, make him go contest for councillorship

Gotocourt:
Desmond Elliott is now an emergency activist

Fekumzi123:
You can't test good things and let go easily. It is better not to taste at all.

ddippset:
You leave the people that are trying to remove him (Tinubu and Gbajabiamla) and you're calling Desmond greedy and selfish!

Tinubu has practically procured Lagos for 30 years,,
Gbajabiamla has been around for 20 years.

Yet it is Desmond that is greedy and selfish!

How you people use your heads is beyond me.

TemplarLandry:
Is he a Muslim? I'm surprised to hear him utter "... rohbi alla min blah blah blah..."

I dedicate "Money Can't Buy Happiness" by Aṣake to him. Great jam!

naptu2:

“The others stepped down and are supporting me and they’re all here, but the only person that didn’t step down and insisted on going to the primaries is Hon. Desmond Elliot. I wish him all the best, and I wish myself luck too. I’m praying that on Wednesday, I emerge as the APC… pic.twitter.com/rV3lDWiqbl

— Lagos Junction (@LagosJunction) May 17, 2026

donleo92:
After how many years in power??

Na toilet you dey show people

Tooor!!!
Them suppose boot am out of office