APC Primary: Desmond Elliot Pulls Out of Lagos Assembly Race

APC Primary: Desmond Elliot Pulls Out of Lagos Assembly Race 

Amid growing tension surrounding the ongoing All Progressives Congress (APC) primaries in Lagos State, the lawmaker representing Surulere Constituency I in the Lagos State House of Assembly, Desmond Elliot, has announced his withdrawal from the contest, citing alleged intimidation and exclusion of his supporters from the voting venue.

The actor-turned-politician made the announcement on Wednesday in a video that surfaced on social media during the exercise. Speaking emotionally at the venue, Elliot accused unnamed individuals of deliberately preventing his loyalists from gaining access to the polling area in what he described as an unfair process.

“My name is Desmond Elliot. In all zones, they have been intimidating and stopping us. I want to officially announce my withdrawal from this particular race. This is my ward. If you go outside, those are my people outside, and they have not been allowed,” he said.

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The lawmaker further disclosed that repeated appeals to electoral officials overseeing the exercise yielded no result, forcing him to pull out of the race.

“So I am officially announcing my withdrawal from this race. Good luck, thank you,” he added.

Shortly after the announcement, supporters of the Surulere I lawmaker staged a peaceful protest at the venue before leaving alongside him.

Elliot, who first emerged in the Lagos Assembly in 2015, has remained one of the most recognisable faces in the state legislature due to his celebrity background and active involvement in Lagos politics. His withdrawal is expected to fuel fresh debate over the conduct of party primaries in Lagos, especially amid recurring allegations of imposition, intimidation and internal power struggles within the APC.

The development comes as the ruling party conducts primaries across the state ahead of the next local political cycle, with several constituencies reportedly witnessing intense contests and disputes among aspirants and party loyalists.

 

APC Primary: Desmond Elliot Pulls Out of Lagos Assembly Race