Lagos State lawmaker and actor Desmond Elliot has withdrawn from the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election for the Surulere I constituency, citing alleged intimidation, coercion, and the exclusion of his supporters from the voting venue.
Elliot announced his withdrawal on Wednesday during the APC House of Assembly primary held at the Paddington Mini Stadium in Western Avenue, Lagos. According to him, repeated appeals to electoral officials to allow his supporters access to the venue were ignored.
“In all zones, they’ve been intimidating and stopping us,” Elliot said while addressing party members at the venue. He alleged that many of his loyalists were prevented from entering the polling area despite being accredited party supporters.
The actor-turned-politician, who currently represents Surulere Constituency I in the Lagos State House of Assembly, stated that the political atmosphere within the local APC chapter had become increasingly hostile ahead of the primaries.
Days before the primary election, Elliot had publicly accused unnamed party leaders and local government officials of intimidation, political victimisation, and attempts to force party members to support a preferred aspirant. He also alleged that some local government workers lost their positions because of their association with him.
The lawmaker further claimed that his security aides were withdrawn under unclear circumstances shortly before the primaries, leaving him vulnerable amid rising political tension in Surulere.
Following his withdrawal, Elliot’s supporters reportedly staged a peaceful protest before leaving the venue alongside him. The lawmaker said he decided to step down to avoid any possible breakdown of law and order, stressing that no political contest was worth violence or loss of life.
Elliot also appealed to APC leaders in Lagos State to ensure future primary elections are conducted in a transparent and fair manner.
The development comes amid ongoing political tension within the Surulere APC structure, especially after recent reports linking Elliot to internal disagreements involving influential party figures in Lagos politics.
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