A broad coalition of Surulere stakeholders has issued a fresh warning to the Chief of Staff to the President, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, against any attempt to impose Hon. Desmond Elliot for a fourth term as a member representing Surulere Constituency 1 in the Lagos State House of Assembly.
The group insisted that the continued imposition of an unpopular candidate amounts to deliberate sabotage of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Surulere and a disregard for the clearly expressed wishes of the people.
The stakeholders, in a press statement released on Friday and signed by Mr. Olanrewaju Badmus of Surulere Accountability Front (SAF) on behalf of the concerned residents, community leaders, and political stakeholders, described Elliot’s 11 years in office 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, Hon. Kabir Lawal was denied the party’s ticket for the Surulere Constituency 1 seat in favour of Desmond Elliot, then
Nollywood actor, “who at the time had no political history in Surulere, no visible presence in the community, and no track record of local engagement.”
According to Badmus, “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. We voted for Desmond Elliot because of pleas from Gbajabiamila in the past, now Gbajabiamila should know we cannot afford a fourth-term experiment in failure.”
Reiterating this position, Mr. Sheriffdeen Ojon, a resident of Surulere, expressed deep displeasure at reports of Elliot’s fourth-term bid. “I heard that Desmond
Elliot is contemplating a fourth term in Surulere Constituency 1, but the people of Surulere have voiced their disapproval,” Ojon said.
“What are his accomplishments as a member of the state House of Assembly representing Surulere? He only reaps the benefits of Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila’s
outstanding work in Surulere.”
Ojon further argued that Elliot’s long stay in office has been sustained mainly by Gbajabiamila’s influence rather than any tangible performance. “Without Chief
of Staff to the President Femi Gbajabiamila’s influence, a third term may not have been possible, given the lack of notable accomplishments after over 11 years at the State House of Assembly, where he largely depended on
Gbajabiamila’s backing and achievements,” he stated.
Badmus and Ojon appealed to him to align with the people’s current mood. “Sir, Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila, 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 and yield positive outcomes,” Ojon noted, adding that residents “respect and admire” Gbajabiamila and “pray fervently for his success and continued good deeds.”
The stakeholders warned that insisting on Desmond Elliot in 2027, despite mounting opposition, would be interpreted as a direct affront to Surulere voters and a careless gamble with the APC’s electoral fortunes.
“If APC truly wants to win elections in Surulere, it must stop the imposition of failure on our people,” Badmus stressed.
“The rejection of Desmond Elliot is now broad and emphatic – from Bank Olemo to Olawale Dawodu to Iponri, Masha and several other communities, residents are united in saying: ‘enough is enough.’”
Calling on Gbajabiamila to use his influence responsibly, the group urged him to allow a new, credible, community-rooted candidate to emerge through a
transparent process.
“It would be prudent for Desmond Elliot to step aside and allow another qualified candidate to run for State Assembly Constituency 1,” Ojon said.
“After 12 years in the House of Assembly, it may be time for him to refocus on his acting and directing career in Nollywood while Surulere gets the responsive, accessible representation it deserves.”
The stakeholders concluded by reaffirming their loyalty to the APC but insisted that loyalty must be mutual. “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. Enough of anyone using Nollywood fame to cajole poor constituents.”