Lagos – Nollywood actor-turned-lawmaker, Hon. Desmond Elliot, on Wednesday officially withdrew from the All Progressives Congress (APC) primaries for the Surulere Constituency 1 seat in the Lagos State House of Assembly.
In a dramatic video recorded at the primary venue, Elliot announced his decision, citing widespread intimidation and obstruction of his supporters. “Nigerians come oh, in all zones, they have been intimidating and stopping us. I want to officially announce my withdrawal from this particular race,” he stated.
The three-term lawmaker, who has represented the constituency since 2015, had earlier raised the alarm over the sudden withdrawal of his security detail and alleged coercion of party members by unnamed leaders and local government officials. Supporters who backed him reportedly faced threats of losing empowerment benefits or jobs.
His withdrawal comes after intense pressure within the APC. Several aspirants had stepped aside to support Hon. Barakat Odunuga-Bakare, who enjoys the backing of influential party figures, including former House of Representatives Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila. In a surprising twist, Elliot’s own campaign Director-General, Bless Koye, defected to Bakare’s camp days earlier.
Party sources told reporters that Bakare-Odunuga eventually emerged as the candidate after the primary exercise, which was marred by tension and claims of unfair play. Elliot had publicly declared days before that he would not defect from the APC even if denied the ticket, pledging loyalty to the party that “picked him from nowhere.”
Political observers view the development as a sign of deepening cracks in Lagos APC ahead of the 2027 general elections. While some supporters urged Elliot to return to acting, others praised his decision as a face-saving move after what they described as a “rigged” process.
As at press time, neither Elliot nor the APC state secretariat had issued further statements on the outcome. The incident has once again spotlighted the contentious nature of party primaries in Lagos, where consensus and godfatherism often overshadow open contests.
