Tension is rising within the Lagos chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) after Nollywood actor-turned-politician Desmond Elliot alleged that his security aides were withdrawn just days before the party’s House of Assembly primaries.
Elliot, who represents Surulere I Constituency in the Lagos State House of Assembly, made the claim in a video now circulating widely on social media ahead of the APC primary election scheduled for May 20, 2026.
In the emotional video, the lawmaker accused party leaders and local government officials of intimidating members and forcing them to support a preferred candidate in the upcoming contest. He alleged that political pressure and threats were being used to weaken his support base within the constituency.
“Intimidation, coercion, twisting and forcing people to follow their own candidate is what is happening today in Surulere,” Elliot said. He further claimed that some party loyalists were threatened with exclusion from empowerment programmes if they failed to align with certain interests.
The lawmaker also alleged that several local government officials lost their positions because of their association with him. According to him, the situation escalated further with the withdrawal of his security personnel.
“We have been intimidated so much that a lot of people have been fired from the local government because they follow me. My security personnel were also taken away from me yesterday. I’m now left alone to myself. What have I done?” he asked.
The controversy comes amid growing political tension linked to Elliot’s relationship with powerful APC figures in Lagos. Reports indicate that Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, recently withdrew his support for the Surulere lawmaker following his alleged involvement in attempts to impeach Lagos State House of Assembly Speaker Mudashiru Obasa in 2025.
The fallout appears to have deepened divisions ahead of the APC primaries, where competition for party tickets has intensified across several constituencies in Lagos State.
Desmond Elliot, who is seeking another term in the Assembly, has represented Surulere I for four consecutive terms. Following the backlash surrounding his political stance, he publicly apologised to Gbajabiamila during an appearance on a TVC programme.
The latest development has sparked debate online, with supporters and critics weighing in on the growing political drama within the ruling party ahead of the elections.
