Nollywood actor and Lagos lawmaker Desmond Elliot has raised the alarm over alleged intimidation and coercion of party members as the All Progressives Congress (APC) prepares for primaries in Surulere Constituency 1.
In a viral video released on Sunday, the Surulere lawmaker claimed his security aide was suddenly withdrawn and accused some party leaders of forcing supporters to back a preferred aspirant ahead of the May 20 exercise.
“Intimidation, coercion, twisting and forcing people to follow their own candidate is what is existing today in Surulere,” Elliot said. “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 alleged that some local government officials had lost their positions for supporting him, claiming the local council had taken sides months 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 added.
Elliot said his security cover was removed the previous day, leaving him exposed.
“My security aid was taken away from me yesterday for reasons best known to them. Now I am left alone to myself. What have I done?” he queried.
Despite the complaints, the three-term lawmaker pledged to accept the outcome if the process is free and fair.
“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 stated.
He appealed to APC leaders to intervene and ensure a peaceful and credible primary in the constituency.
