Desmond Elliot fourth term bid gains attention as the Lagos lawmaker cites leadership ambition amid APC tensions

Lagos State lawmaker Desmond Elliot on Friday defended his decision to seek a fourth term in the Lagos State House of Assembly, saying his ambition to become a principal officer informed the move amid rising political tensions within the ruling All Progressives Congress.

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Elliot, who represents Surulere Constituency I, made the remarks while addressing supporters during a campaign outing ahead of the APC primary election scheduled for May 21.

In a video that later went viral on X, the actor-turned-politician urged loyalists not to succumb to intimidation allegedly coming from rival political camps.

“The question is, ‘what am I looking for in the fourth term that I am being intimidated to step down’,” Elliot said.

“Don’t accept it, you have invested so much in me. There is a high chance that I will become a principal officer.”

The Desmond Elliot fourth term campaign has drawn heightened attention following reports that influential APC stakeholders aligned with Femi Gbajabiamila are backing Barakat Odunuga-Bakare, a former aide to Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to challenge Elliot in the party primary ahead of the 2027 Lagos Assembly election.

Elliot also appealed to supporters to mobilise massively during the primary exercise, expressing confidence that he would emerge victorious despite the internal contest.

Quoting Psalm 121, the lawmaker described faith as his source of strength in navigating what he portrayed as a fierce political battle.

“One with God is the majority,” Elliot told supporters during the campaign event.

Earlier on Friday, the Nollywood star publicly apologised to Gbajabiamila during an appearance on TVC’s Your View, acknowledging that misunderstandings may have occurred during previous political engagements.

Elliot said any perceived offence against the Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu was unintentional and stressed his commitment to party unity and constituency development.

“I’m not saying, oh, yes, media will come out, oh yes, Desmond begs again. Yes, because he’s my egbon,” Elliot said during the programme.

“And I grew up learning everything I knew in politics through him.”

The apology comes against the backdrop of lingering tensions linked to the Lagos State House of Assembly leadership crisis, during which Gbajabiamila disclosed that he nearly lost his position at the Presidency over allegations connecting Elliot to the Assembly speakership tussle.

Gbajabiamila had earlier said President Tinubu confronted him over intelligence reports alleging Elliot’s involvement in moves surrounding the crisis, claims the lawmaker denied at the time.

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Political observers say the unfolding contest within Surulere Constituency I could become one of the most closely watched internal APC battles in Lagos as party alignments begin to shift ahead of the next electoral cycle.