By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa
A broad coalition of stakeholders in Surulere has issued a fresh warning to President Bola Tinubu’s Chief of Staff, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, urging him to abandon any plan to impose Hon. Desmond Elliot as the candidate for Surulere Constituency 1 in the Lagos State House of Assembly for a fourth term.
The group argues that repeatedly forcing an unpopular candidate on the constituency would constitute deliberate sabotage of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Surulere and a blatant disregard for the people’s clearly expressed will.
In a press statement released Friday, signed by Mr. Olanrewaju Badmus of the Surulere Accountability Front (SAF) on behalf of concerned residents, community leaders, and political stakeholders, the coalition 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 favor of Elliot, then a Nollywood actor. Badmus noted that Elliot “at the time had no political history in Surulere, no visible presence in the community, and no track record of local engagement.”
“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. 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.”
Reinforcing this position, Mr. Sheriffdeen Ojon, a Surulere resident, expressed deep displeasure over reports of Elliot’s fourth-term ambition. “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 the constituency.”
Ojon further argued that Elliot’s prolonged tenure has been sustained mainly by Gbajabiamila’s influence rather than any tangible performance. “Without the Chief of Staff to the President’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.
Both Badmus and Ojon appealed to Gbajabiamila to heed the people’s mood. “Sir, your reputation as a good listener and effective leader is well acknowledged in Surulere,” Ojon noted. “We trust that the voices of your constituents will be heard and yield positive outcomes.” He added that residents “respect and admire” Gbajabiamila and “pray fervently for his success and continued good deeds.”
The stakeholders warned that insisting on 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.'”
The group urged Gbajabiamila to use his influence responsibly and 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 reaffirmed 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.”
