By ADEYEMI ADELEYE

A coalition of stakeholders in Surulere has cautioned the Chief of Staff to the President,Mr Femi Gbajabiamila, against backing the fourth term of Mr Desmond Elliot, representing Surulere Constituency I in the Lagos State House of Assembly.

The group made its position known in a statement issued on Friday and signed by its Spokesman, Mr Olanrewaju Badmus of Surulere Accountability Front (SAF).

The stakeholders said such a move would undermine the All Progressives Congress (APC) and disregard the wishes of constituents in Surulere Constituency I.

Badmus said the statement reflected the views of concerned residents, community leaders and political stakeholders in the constituency.

He described Elliot’s 11-year tenure as “a wasted opportunity marked by underperformance, detachment from grassroots realities, and over-reliance on the record of others.”

He recalled that in 2015, Alhaji Kabir Lawal was denied the APC ticket for Surulere Constituency I, adding that Elliot, a Nollywood actor, was instead fielded “despite lacking political history in the area.”

Badmus claimed Elliot had no visible presence in Surulere at the time and lacked a track record of local engagement.

Badmus said: “Surulere has paid the price for that decision for 11 years.

“The constituency was handed

over to someone who was never part of our political structure and has consistently failed to justify the confidence reposed in him.

“We voted for Desmond Elliot because of pleas from Gbajabiamila in the past, now Gbajabiamila should know we cannot afford a fourth-term experiment in failure.”

Badmus cautioned that insisting on Elliot’s candidacy in 2027 could affect the APC’s electoral chances in Surulere.

“If APC truly wants to win elections in Surulere, it must stop the imposition of failure on our people.

“The rejection of Desmond Elliot is now broad and emphatic – from Bank Olemo to Olawale Dawodu to Iponri, Masha and several other communities.

“Residents are united in saying: ‘enough is enough,” he added.

He urged Gbajabiamila to allow a new candidate to emerge through a transparent and credible process.

Badmus reaffirmed the stakeholders’ loyalty to the APC, but emphasised that such loyalty must be reciprocal.

“We will not work against our own future. If the party listens to the people and rejects imposition, Surulere will stand firmly with APC in 2027.

“If it does otherwise, it should be ready to bear the consequences at the polls.

“Enough of anyone using Nollywood fame to cajole poor constituents. Surulere people are wiser now,” Badmus said.

Also speaking, a resident, Mr Sheriffdeen Ojon, expressed dissatisfaction with reports of Elliot’s fourth-term ambition.

“I heard that Desmond Elliot is contemplating a fourth term in Surulere Constituency 1, but the people of Surulere have voiced their disapproval.

“What are his accomplishments as a member of the state House of Assembly representing Surulere?

“He only reaps the benefits of Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila’s outstanding work in Surulere.”

Ojon further alleged that Elliot’s continued stay in office was largely due to Gbajabiamila’s influence.

He said: “Without Chief of Staff to the President Femi Gbajabiamila’s influence, a third term may not have been possible.

“Given the lack of notable accomplishments after over 11 years at the state House of Assembly, where he largely depended on Gbajabiamila’s backing and achievements.

“It would be prudent for Desmond Elliot to step aside and allow another qualified candidate to run for State Assembly Constituency 1.

“After 12 years in the House of Assembly, it may be time for him to refocus on his acting and directing career in Nollywood while Surulere gets the responsive, accessible representation it deserves.”

He added that residents “respect and admire” Gbajabiamila and “pray fervently for his success and continued good deeds.”

Both Badmus and Ojon appealed to Gbajabiamila to align with the mood of constituents.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) however recalls that scores of APC members and residents of Surulere 1 constituency on Tuesday marched round the streets of the Lagos constituency, urging the party to adopt the incumbent lawmaker, Elliot, as its consensus candidate for the 2027 elections.

The residents , who converged on Teslim Balogun Stadium, walked round the popular Shitta Roundabout and adjoining streets, holding placards with various inscriptions expressing their support for Elliot.

Mr Oludare Khalid-Willican, who led the march, said such action had become necessary following a rumoured decision by some party leaders to give the APC ticket to a supposed consensus candidate.

Khalid-Willican said that many residents had benefitted from Elliot’s good representation in the House of Assembly, adding that he had impacted many lives and facilitated many developments to the area. (NAN)

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