DESMOND ELLIOT WITHDRAWS FROM SURULERE 1 APC ASSEMBLY PRIMARY, ALLEGES INTIMIDATION OF SUPPORTERS

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By Aishat Momoh. O.

Lagos lawmaker and Nollywood actor, Desmond Elliot, has withdrawn from the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election for the Surulere 1 seat in the Lagos State House of Assembly, citing alleged intimidation and exclusion of his supporters from the process.

Elliot, who currently represents Surulere 1 constituency, announced his withdrawal on Wednesday through a video shared on his Instagram page, where he accused party leaders in the area of creating an atmosphere of coercion during the primaries.

According to him, several of his supporters were prevented from participating in the exercise across different zones within the constituency.

“My name is Desmond Elliot and in all zones they have been intimidating and stopping us. I want to officially announce my withdrawal from this particular race,” he said.

He added that the situation had made participation in the process impossible for his camp.

“This is my ward. If you go outside, those are my people outside, they have not been allowed. So, I am officially announcing my withdrawal from this race. Good luck, thank you and God bless you,” Elliot stated.

His withdrawal marks a sharp turn in the APC primaries in Lagos, which have been marked in some constituencies by allegations of internal disagreements and irregularities.

Elliot, who was first elected into the Lagos State House of Assembly in 2015, has represented Surulere 1 on the APC platform since then.

The development also comes less than 24 hours after the lawmaker had publicly stated on national television that he had no intention of stepping down and had not been asked to withdraw by any party leader, including the Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila.

At the time, he insisted that the decision on his candidacy should rest with party members, saying, “let the people decide.”