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Lagos State lawmaker and Nollywood actor Desmond Elliott has withdrawn from the All Progressives Congress primary election for Surulere Constituency I, citing alleged intimidation and suppression of his supporters during the exercise. Elliott announced his withdrawal on Wednesday at the Paddington Mini Stadium in Western Avenue, where the APC primary was being conducted amid heavy political tension and heightened security presence. 
Speaking shortly before leaving the venue, the three-term lawmaker accused unnamed party figures of deliberately preventing many of his supporters from gaining access to the polling area despite repeated appeals to electoral officials. Elliott claimed that intimidation and coordinated obstruction had taken place across several zones within the constituency, making it impossible for what he described as a free and fair contest to hold. He stated that his decision to withdraw was necessary to avoid violence or any breakdown of law and order during the primary. 
The development marks another dramatic twist in the increasingly tense political contest within Surulere I, where Elliott was seeking a fourth term in the Lagos State House of Assembly. The lawmaker had earlier raised concerns over alleged political intimidation against his camp, including claims that some local government workers were removed from their positions because of their support for him. He also previously alleged that his security aides had been withdrawn ahead of the primary, while urging party leaders to guarantee fairness throughout the process. 
Elliott’s withdrawal came as Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, praised the APC primary process in Surulere, describing the exercise as peaceful, orderly, and transparent. Political observers believe the situation reflects deeper internal power struggles within the Lagos APC ahead of the 2027 elections, especially as influential political blocs continue repositioning themselves for future leadership battles within the state. Following Elliott’s exit from the race, his supporters staged a peaceful protest before leaving the venue alongside the actor-politician, while calls for greater transparency in the party’s primaries continued to grow. 
