A broad coalition of political stakeholders and residents in Surulere has advised the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, against any attempt to impose Desmond Elliot for a fourth term as member representing Surulere Constituency I in the Lagos State House of Assembly.
The group, under the aegis of the Surulere Accountability Front (SAF), said such a move would amount to disregarding the will of the people and could undermine the electoral fortunes of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the constituency.
In a statement issued on Friday and signed by Olanrewaju Badmus on behalf of concerned residents and community leaders, the stakeholders described Elliot’s over a decade-long representation as “a wasted opportunity marked by underperformance, detachment from grassroots realities, character deficiency, and overreliance on the record of others.”
The statement recalled that in 2015, a former aspirant, Kabir Lawal, was denied the party’s ticket in favour of Elliot, who, according to them, had no prior political structure or visible grassroots engagement in Surulere at the time.
“Surulere has paid the price for that decision for 11 years,” Badmus said.
“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.”
He added that residents initially supported Elliot based on appeals from Gbajabiamila, but stressed that the situation had changed.
“We voted for Desmond Elliot because of pleas from Gbajabiamila in the past. Now, we cannot afford a fourth-term experiment in failure,” he said.
Echoing similar sentiments, a resident, Sheriffdeen Ojon, expressed dissatisfaction over reports of Elliot’s intention to seek another term, questioning his achievements in office.
“What are his accomplishments as a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly representing Surulere Constituency I?” Ojon asked. “He only reaps the benefits of Gbajabiamila’s outstanding work in Surulere.”
Ojon further alleged that Elliot’s continued electoral success has largely been due to Gbajabiamila’s political influence rather than his individual performance.
“Without Gbajabiamila’s backing, a third term may not have been possible, given the lack of notable accomplishments after over 11 years in office,” he said.
Despite their criticisms, the stakeholders acknowledged Gbajabiamila’s standing in Surulere, describing him as a responsive leader, and appealed to him to heed the growing discontent among constituents.
“Your reputation as a good listener and effective leader is well acknowledged in Surulere. We trust that the voices of your constituents will be heard,” Ojon stated, adding that residents continue to hold the former Speaker in high regard.
The group warned that any attempt to field Elliot again in 2027 could be interpreted as a direct affront to voters and may have consequences for the APC at the polls.
“The rejection of Desmond Elliot is now broad and emphatic from Bank Olemoh to Olawale Dawodu, Iponri, and Masha, residents are united in saying: ‘enough is enough,’” Badmus said.
They urged Gbajabiamila to allow a transparent process that would produce a credible, community-rooted candidate for the constituency, insisting that the future of the party in Surulere depends on it.
“It would be prudent for Desmond Elliot to step aside and allow another qualified candidate to emerge,” Ojon said.
“After over a decade in the House of Assembly, it may be time for him to refocus on his career in Nollywood while Surulere gets the responsive representation it deserves.”
The stakeholders reaffirmed their loyalty to the APC but stressed that such loyalty must be reciprocal.
“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.”