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Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, has commended the conduct of the All Progressives Congress House of Assembly primaries in Surulere Constituency I, Lagos State, describing the exercise as peaceful, transparent, and orderly. His remarks came amid political drama in the constituency after incumbent lawmaker and actor-turned-politician Desmond Elliott announced his withdrawal from the race, alleging intimidation and suppression of his supporters during the exercise. 
Gbajabiamila spoke to journalists after voting at Ward G2 in the Adeniran Ogunsanya area of Surulere, where he said he was impressed by the turnout and the conduct of party members throughout the primary. The former Speaker of the House of Representatives stated that reports from other wards also indicated that the election process remained peaceful across the constituency. The Surulere primary had attracted significant attention because Elliott, a three-term lawmaker seeking another term in the Lagos State House of Assembly, was facing strong opposition from Barakat Odunuga-Bakare, a female aspirant reportedly backed by influential APC stakeholders aligned with Gbajabiamila. 
However, shortly before voting concluded, Elliott announced his withdrawal at the Paddington Mini Stadium venue of the primary, claiming many of his supporters were prevented from accessing the polling area despite repeated appeals to electoral officials. He accused unnamed party figures of intimidation and political coercion, insisting that his camp had been unfairly targeted throughout the process. The lawmaker had earlier alleged that some of his supporters lost political appointments because of their loyalty to him, while his security aides were also allegedly withdrawn days before the primary. 
The development marks another chapter in the growing political tension within the Lagos APC ahead of the 2027 elections. In recent weeks, reports of internal disagreements, endorsement battles, and resistance to consensus arrangements have surfaced in several APC-controlled states, including Lagos. Analysts believe the Surulere contest reflects broader power struggles within the ruling party as influential political blocs position themselves ahead of future elections and leadership negotiations within the state structure. 
