A coalition of Surulere stakeholders has warned Chief of Staff to the President, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, against pushing for Hon. Desmond Elliot's fourth term in the Lagos State House of Assembly. The group opposes any attempt to impose Elliot as the candidate for Surulere Constituency 1 in the upcoming elections. They argue that a fourth term would undermine democratic principles and limit space for new voices. The stakeholders described Elliot's tenure as marked by dwindling public engagement and unmet promises. They urged party leaders to adopt a transparent, inclusive process in selecting candidates. "Desmond Elliot has had his fair share of opportunities. It is time for others to step up," a spokesperson said. The group called for a level playing field and warned that any imposition would trigger resistance from the grassroots.
Desmond Elliot's bid for a fourth term exposes a pattern where political longevity is mistaken for effectiveness. With declining visibility and little to show in recent legislative output, his continued dominance serves more as a testament to backroom influence than public mandate. For voters in Surulere, this signals that electoral choices are often pre-packaged by powerful allies like Gbajabiamila, not shaped by local needs. Real change would require breaking this cycle, not recycling familiar names.
