Lagos State lawmaker Desmond Elliott has accused some All Progressives Congress leaders in Surulere of intimidation, coercion and political victimisation ahead of the party’s House of Assembly primary scheduled for May 20.
Elliott, who represents Surulere Constituency I in the Lagos State House of Assembly, made the allegations in a viral video circulated on Sunday. He claimed party members were being pressured to support a preferred aspirant and warned that the atmosphere within the local APC structure had become tense and unfair.
“Intimidation, coercion, twisting and forcing people to follow their own candidate is what is existing today in Surulere,” Elliott said. He alleged that some local government officials had been removed from office because they supported his re-election bid.
The actor-turned-politician also claimed that his security aide had been withdrawn, leaving him exposed as the primary approached. “My security aide 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.
Elliott further alleged that local government leaders had openly backed another aspirant months before the primary, saying the process should be left to party members to decide freely. He appealed to APC leaders to investigate the situation and ensure that the contest is peaceful, transparent and credible.
The dispute reflects a deepening crisis in the Surulere APC. Earlier reports said some stakeholders accused allies of Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, of backing Barakat Odunuga-Bakare, a former aide to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, against Elliott.
Elliott said he would accept the outcome if the primary is free and fair, adding that he would support whoever emerges as the party’s candidate under a credible process.
“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 said.
His allegations are expected to heighten concerns over internal divisions, candidate imposition and factional rivalry in the APC ahead of the Lagos Assembly primaries.
