KEY POINTS

• Desmond Elliot withdrew from the APC primary for Surulere 1, citing intimidation and coercion.
• He alleged that supporters were blocked from participating in the primary process across several zones.
• The withdrawal adds to ongoing tensions and disputes within APC primaries nationwide.

Lagos lawmaker Desmond Elliot has withdrawn from the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election for the Surulere 1 seat in the Lagos State House of Assembly.

The decision, announced on Wednesday, comes amid rising tension surrounding the party’s primary elections in Lagos State, where multiple aspirants have raised concerns about alleged irregularities and internal disputes within the party structure.

Elliot’s withdrawal marks a significant development in the political race, especially given his long-standing representation of the Surulere 1 constituency.

The lawmaker alleged that some party leaders in Surulere engaged in acts of intimidation, coercion, and political pressure targeted at influencing the outcome of the primary election.

According to him, there were deliberate attempts to force party members and supporters to align with a preferred aspirant, rather than allowing a free and fair contest within the constituency.

Elliot described the situation as one marked by political victimisation, claiming that individuals supporting his re-election bid were being pressured to switch allegiance.

He argued that such practices undermined internal democracy and created an unfair political environment for aspirants participating in the primary election process.

Supporters allegedly blocked from participating in primaries

In a video shared online, Desmond Elliot further claimed that his supporters were prevented from participating in the primary election across several zones within the Surulere constituency.

He alleged that party loyalists and some local government officials backing his campaign were either intimidated or restricted from taking part in the voting process.

According to him, these actions made it impossible for a fair contest to take place, ultimately forcing him to withdraw from the race.

Elliot stated that the situation was particularly disappointing given his long-standing connection with the constituency and his support base within the area.

The withdrawal of Desmond Elliot adds to a growing list of controversies surrounding the APC primary elections across different states in the country.

Several aspirants have recently raised concerns about alleged imposition of candidates, internal party disagreements, and claims of unfair electoral processes within the ruling party’s primaries.

Political observers say the rising number of disputes could affect party cohesion ahead of future elections if not properly addressed through internal reconciliation mechanisms.

The development reflects broader challenges often associated with party primaries in Nigeria, where competition for tickets can sometimes lead to tensions among party members and supporters.