Desmond Elliot Withdraws From Lagos APC Assembly Primaries, Alleges Widespread Intimidation
Nollywood actor and Lagos lawmaker, Desmond Elliot, has officially withdrawn from the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election for the Surulere Constituency I seat in the Lagos State House of Assembly, citing alleged intimidation, harassment of supporters, and manipulation of the electoral process.
Elliot made the announcement on Wednesday at the venue of the APC primary election held at the Paddington Mini Stadium in Surulere, Lagos, where party delegates and supporters had gathered for the exercise.
The visibly emotional lawmaker told party faithful that he could no longer continue in the race after what he described as systematic efforts to frustrate his supporters and weaken his political structure ahead of the voting process.
According to him, many of his loyalists and accredited delegates were allegedly denied access to the venue, while some were intimidated and prevented from participating in the exercise.
“And of course, in all zones, they’ve been intimidating and stopping us. I want to officially announce my withdrawal from this race,” Elliot declared before supporters at the stadium.
The development marked a dramatic end to Elliot’s bid for a fourth consecutive term in the Lagos State House of Assembly, where he has represented Surulere Constituency I since 2015.
The actor-turned-politician had earlier raised alarm over what he described as increasing political pressure and coordinated attempts to edge him out of the contest. In a viral video that surfaced days before the primary, Elliot alleged that several local government officials believed to be loyal to him had been removed from their positions because of their support for his re-election ambition.
He also claimed that his security aides were suddenly withdrawn without explanation, a move he said left him exposed and vulnerable during the tense political period.
“It seems I am being thrown under the bus,” Elliot lamented in the video while expressing disappointment over the treatment he allegedly received from some party stakeholders.
Sources within the Surulere APC chapter disclosed that the primary election had been preceded by intense lobbying and pressure from influential political figures backing another aspirant, Barakat Odunuga-Bakare, who was believed to enjoy stronger support within the local party structure.
The internal crisis reportedly deepened after Elliot’s campaign Director-General resigned from his team and openly endorsed his opponent shortly before the primary.
Despite the mounting pressure, Elliot had publicly maintained that no party leader directly instructed him to withdraw from the race and insisted that he remained a loyal member of the APC.
However, political observers believe the events leading to his withdrawal reflect the growing internal power struggles within the Lagos APC ahead of the 2027 political cycle.
Supporters of the lawmaker who gathered at the venue were seen expressing disappointment following the announcement, with some accusing party leaders of orchestrating an unfair process against the incumbent legislator.
Elliot, while stepping down from the contest, appealed to party leaders to ensure fairness, unity, and transparency in future primaries to prevent internal divisions capable of weakening the party’s structure in Surulere.
The APC primary in Surulere has since generated widespread reactions across social media and political circles, with many Nigerians debating the role of internal party politics and godfatherism in determining electoral outcomes within major political parties.
