•Desmond Elliott and Femi Gbajabiamila
The political future of Desmond Elliot has been thrown into uncertainty after the actor-turned-politician lost his bid for a fourth term in the Lagos State House of Assembly during a tense APC primary overshadowed by internal party disputes and allegations of harassment.
Elliot reportedly lost the All Progressives Congress primary election for Surulere Constituency I after a bruising contest that exposed deep divisions within the Lagos APC and signalled a dramatic collapse of his once formidable political structure, reports Daily Independent.
His defeat is believed to be linked to the lingering fallout from the controversial impeachment crisis involving Lagos State House of Assembly Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, an episode that allegedly placed him at odds with influential figures within the ruling party.
Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, had publicly criticised Desmond Elliot over what was described as his refusal to back down during the leadership tussle, despite reported directives from party leaders urging restraint.
Although the lawmaker later defended himself against the allegations and publicly apologised, political observers believe the incident may have weakened his standing among influential power blocs within the ruling party.
Party stakeholders had reportedly urged him to step down for another aspirant, Barakat Odunuga-Bakare, who was also contesting for the seat, but Elliot declined and proceeded with his ambition.
Political observers say Elliot’s defeat underscores the unforgiving nature of party politics, where past disputes and internal realignments often resurface at critical moments, especially in tightly contested primaries.
“In Lagos politics, once the internal structure shifts against a candidate, even incumbency becomes fragile,” a political observer said.
With his fourth-term ambition now dashed, attention is shifting to what direction the former lawmaker and ace actor may take next.
Will he remain in politics to return to acting movies? Time will tell.
“This outcome reflects how quickly political capital can erode within party structures. Once internal trust is lost, it is rarely restored before critical elections,” a political analyst noted.
Meanwhile, the leadership of the All Progressives Congress in Lagos is yet to issue an official response to the allegations of irregularities and intimidation that trailed the Surulere primary election.
“We witnessed clear attempts to frustrate our supporters and suppress turnout in several polling points. These incidents were documented by journalists and observers, and we will make the evidence public in due course,” a member of Elliot’s media team said.
