[VIDEO] “Intimidation, coercion”, Desmond Elliot alleges withdrawal of security aides, political pressure ahead of APC primaries
Lagos lawmaker Desmond Elliott has alleged that he is facing intimidation, political victimisation and the withdrawal of his security aides ahead of the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election for Surulere I constituency.
In a viral video shared on Sunday, Mr Elliott claimed that unnamed party leaders and local government officials were pressuring members to back a preferred aspirant ahead of the APC House of Assembly primaries scheduled for 20 May.
He also alleged that some local government officials were removed from their positions because of their support for him, adding that the internal politics of the Surulere APC had become increasingly tense.
“Intimidation, coercion, twisting and forcing people to follow their own candidate is what is existing today in Surulere,” Mr Elliott said in the video.
“Telling them that they will not be beneficiaries of some empowerment that is coming some other time. Please, this is not done and should not be done.”
He further claimed that local government authorities had already taken sides long before the primaries.
“It is bad enough that the LGA and the local government already took a side months ago. The local government already took a side to support a particular aspirant,” he stated.
Mr Elliott also alleged that several of his supporters had faced sanctions due to their political alignment.
“We’ve been intimidated so much so that a lot of people from the local government have been fired because they follow me,” he alleged.
The lawmaker said his security detail was unexpectedly withdrawn.
“My security personnel were taken away from me yesterday for reasons best known to them. Now I am left alone to myself. What have I done?” he queried.
He also warned about possible unrest during the primaries, alleging plans to bring in outsiders to disrupt the process.
“They are coming out to fight us. They want to bring people from outside and from within to cause mayhem and trouble,” he alleged.
Despite his concerns, he urged party leaders to intervene and ensure a fair process.
“I want to ask our party chieftains, please investigate this matter,” he said.
He added that he would accept the outcome if the primaries were conducted fairly.
“By the grace of God, if I, Desmond Olusola Elliott, win, Alhamdulillah. If I lose, I will throw my support behind the winner. But please let it be under a free and fair election,” he added.
He also appealed for calm among his supporters, insisting that adequate security would be in place.
Mr Elliott further used the video to endorse other APC candidates, including Wasiu Eshilokun, Kadri Hamzat and Bola Tinubu.
Earlier, the Director-General of the Desmond Elliott Campaign Organisation, Bless Koye, had withdrawn support for his fourth-term bid and declared backing for another aspirant, Barakat Odunuga-Bakare.
The development comes days after Mr Elliott apologised to Femi Gbajabiamila over allegations linked to a past impeachment plot in the Lagos State House of Assembly.
Click the link to watch the video.