DESMOND ELLIOT RAISES ALARM OVER ALLEGED INTIMIDATION AHEAD OF APC PRIMARIES IN SURULERE

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By: Muftau Fatimo

Desmond Elliot, the lawmaker representing Surulere Constituency in the Lagos State House of Assembly, has raised concerns over alleged intimidation and coercion ahead of the All Progressives Congress direct primaries in Surulere.

Speaking in a video shared on his X handle on Sunday, Elliot urged party leaders to ensure a transparent and credible exercise, accusing some party members of attempting to influence voters through threats and intimidation.

While commending President Bola Tinubu and the APC leadership for approving direct primaries across the country, Elliot said the process was intended to gauge the popularity of aspirants.

“I want to appreciate the President of this great country and the party leadership for allowing direct primaries to be held across the country. We say thank you because this process is meant to test the popularity of aspirants across board,” he said.

The lawmaker, however, alleged that some individuals in Surulere were intimidating party members and attempting to compel support for preferred candidates.

“I want to bring to your notice that intimidation, coercion, arm twisting and forcing people to support certain candidates is what is happening in Surulere today,” he added.

According to him, some party loyalists were allegedly threatened with exclusion from future empowerment programmes if they failed to support a preferred aspirant.

“Please, this is not done and should not be done. We are all members of the same party,” Elliot added.

He further claimed that some local government workers were dismissed because of their support for him.

“We’ve been intimidated so much so that a lot of people from the local government have been fired because they follow me. That should not be allowed,” he said.

Elliot also alleged that local government authorities had openly backed another aspirant months before the primaries.

“It is bad enough that the local government already took a side months ago to support a particular aspirant. I didn’t say anything,” he stated.

The APC chieftain claimed that his security personnel had been withdrawn shortly before the primaries.

My security personnel was 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 warned against any attempt to cause violence during the exercise and appealed for peaceful conduct among party supporters.

“They want to bring people from outside and from within to cause mayhem and to cause trouble. Please allow for a free, fair election on the 20th of May, 2026,” he said.

Elliot urged party leaders to investigate the allegations and appealed to his supporters not to be intimidated.

“To supporters of Desmond Elliot who believe in fairness, accessibility and due process, do not be intimidated. Come out and participate because maximum security will be provided by the party on the day of the exercise,” he said.

The lawmaker also rallied support for other All Progressives Congress candidates ahead of the elections, urging supporters to vote for Wasiu Eshinoku on May 18, Kadri Obafemi Hamzat on May 21, and President Bola Tinubu on May 23.

“An end must be put to intimidation in Surulere. We want peace in Surulere. God bless you,” Elliot added.