DON’T IMPOSE DESMOND ELLIOT FOR 4TH TERM, SURELERE STAKEHOLDERS TELL GBAJABIAMILA

The Surulere Accountability Front, SAF, in a statement by Olanrewaju Badmus, described Elliot’s 11 years in office as “a wasted opportunity marked by underperformance, detachment from grassroots realities,

character deficiency, and overreliance on the record of others.”

The group recalled that in 2015, Kabir Lawal was denied the party ticket for the Surulere Constituency 1 seat in favour of Desmond Elliot, a Nollywood actor, “who at the time had no political history in Surulere, no visible presence in the community, and no track record of local engagement.”

Badmus said, “Surulere has paid the price for that decision for 11 years. The constituency was handed over to someone who was never part of our political structure and has consistently failed to justify the confidence reposed in him. We voted for Desmond Elliot because of pleas from Gbajabiamila in the
past, now Gbajabiamila should know we cannot afford a fourth-term experiment in failure.”

Badmus further said: “If APC truly wants to win elections in Surulere, it must stop the imposition of failure on our people.

“The rejection of Desmond Elliot is now broad and emphatic– from Bank Olemo to Olawale Dawodu to Iponri, Masha and several other communities, residents are united in saying: ‘enough is enough.’”

Calling on Gbajabiamila to use his influence responsibly, the group urged him to allow a new, credible, community-rooted candidate to emerge through a transparent process.

“It would be prudent for Desmond Elliot to step aside and allow another qualified candidate to run for State Assembly Constituency 1.

“After 12 years in the House of Assembly, it may be time for him to refocus on his acting and directing career in Nollywood while Surulere gets the responsive, accessible representation it deserves.”

The stakeholders concluded by reaffirming their loyalty to the APC but insisted that loyalty must be mutual. “We will not work against our own future,” Badmus said. “If the party listens to the people and rejects imposition, Surulere will stand firmly with APC in 2027. If it does otherwise, it should be ready to bear the consequences at the polls. Enough of anyone using Nollywood fame to cajole poor constituents. Surulere people are wiser now.”

Also speaking, Sheriffdeen Ojon, a resident of Surulere, expressed displeasure at reports of a fourth-term bid for the lawmaker.

Ojon said: “I heard that Desmond Elliot is contemplating a fourth term in Surulere Constituency 1, but the people of Surulere have voiced their disapproval.