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The lawmaker representing Surulere Constituency 1 in the Lagos State House of Assembly, Desmond Elliot, has said he will appeal the outcome of the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election held on Wednesday.
Elliot, a three-term lawmaker seeking a fourth term, lost the APC primary in Surulere Constituency I, alleging intimidation.
The lawmaker had, however, earlier said he would withdraw from the race.
“And of course, in all zones, they’ve been intimidating and stopping us. I want to officially announce my withdrawal from this particular race. This is my ward. If you go outside, those are my people outside,” the lawmaker said earlier.
The lawmaker, in an interview with TVC News, denied withdrawing from the race and said he would appeal the primary election, adding that he meant he would withdraw his agents from participating in the voting process.
“The only person that can ask me to step down is the party. If the party says there’s more, go down. That’s when I will step down because I’m a party person. But the party has also, in its magnanimity, given us an opportunity to appeal. We will appeal it. And, like I say, it’s not a do-or-die affair,” said Elliot.
“I’m here to serve the people. I’m not, I mean, that is my home. They come to my house. They see. Come on. So, if I’m here to serve you as a person, and perhaps some people feel it shouldn’t happen. So I’m not going to say any more than that we are not accepting this process and we are appealing it. So, it’s not, it’s not, it’s not. I am not withdrawing.
“What I said is I’m withdrawing my agents from going to participate in the voting process. But we are appealing the process. We are appealing.”
For Immediate Release
May 20, 2026.
Hon. Desmond Elliott Did Not Step Down From APC Primary Race in Surulere Constituency 1
Our attention has been drawn to misleading reports and deliberate misrepresentations suggesting that Hon. Desmond Elliott stepped down from the contest… https://t.co/j0UkHhExKB
— Desmond Elliot (@DesmondOElliot) May 20, 2026
In another statement shared on X, the lawmaker said he did not withdraw from the race.
“We wish to categorically state that Hon. Desmond Elliott did not withdraw or step down from the race,” the statement read in part.
“For the avoidance of doubt, what Hon. Desmond Elliott communicated in the video posted on his official X (formerly Twitter) handle, @DesmondOElliot, was his deep concern over the deliberate exclusion and intimidation of his supporters, many of whom were denied access to the designated voting venues, particularly in Ward F2 and Ward F3.”
