Desmond Elliot: My Security Aides Withdrawn, Supporters Intimidated
Lagos, Nigeria — May 18, 2026
Desmond Elliot, the lawmaker representing Surulere Constituency 1 in the Lagos State House of Assembly, has alleged intimidation, coercion, and political victimisation ahead of the All Progressives Congress (APC) house of assembly primaries scheduled for May 20.
In a video shared on his social media platforms, the actor-turned-politician accused some APC leaders in Surulere of mounting pressure on party members and local government officials to support a preferred aspirant against him.
Elliot claimed that individuals backing his aspiration were being threatened with removal from their positions and denial of future political opportunities if they refused to align with certain interests within the party.
“Intimidation, coercion, twisting and forcing people to follow their own candidate is what is existing today in Surulere,” he said.
The lawmaker also alleged that his security aides had been withdrawn, describing the development as part of a broader attempt to weaken his political structure ahead of the primaries.
According to Elliot, several of his supporters have continued to face harassment and intimidation for openly identifying with his re-election bid.
The APC primaries in Lagos are expected to be keenly contested, with internal disagreements emerging in several constituencies as aspirants intensify consultations and mobilization efforts ahead of the exercise.
Elliot, who first won election into the Lagos assembly in 2015, has represented Surulere Constituency 1 for over a decade while maintaining a presence in Nigeria’s entertainment industry.
