Surulere stakeholders oppose alleged move to impose Desmond Elliot for fourth term

A coalition of stakeholders in Surulere, Lagos, has cautioned the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, against any attempt to impose lawmaker Desmond Elliot for a fourth term in the Lagos State House of Assembly.

The group, under the aegis of Surulere Accountability Front, said such a move would undermine the All Progressives Congress and disregard the wishes of constituents.

In a statement signed by its spokesperson, Olanrewaju Badmus, the group described Elliot’s over a decade in office as underwhelming, alleging a disconnect from grassroots realities and limited impact on the constituency.

“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,” the statement read.

The group said residents across several communities in the constituency had rejected any plan to return the lawmaker, insisting that the party must allow a credible and community-rooted candidate to emerge through a transparent process.

It urged Gbajabiamila to heed the concerns of constituents, warning that continued imposition could affect the party’s chances in the 2027 elections.

Also speaking, a resident, Sheriffdeen Ojon, questioned Elliot’s achievements in office, alleging that his political success had largely been driven by Gbajabiamila’s influence.

The stakeholders reaffirmed their loyalty to the APC but stressed that the party must respect the will of the people, warning that failure to do so could have electoral consequences.