A coalition of stakeholders in Surulere, Lagos State, has rejected the bid of Desmond Elliot to seek a fourth term in the Lagos State House of Assembly.
The group, Surulere Accountability Forum, made its position known in a statement issued on Wednesday by its spokesman, Olanrewaju Badmus.
The coalition said Mr Elliot’s previous three terms in office were not satisfactory.
He also alleged that Mr Elliot lacked the creativity and drive to tackle infrastructure decay, youth unemployment and inadequate primary healthcare.
“We are not opposed to any individual on principle, but we refuse to endorse continued leadership that has not produced tangible improvements for our wards.
“Three terms should have produced clear, measurable progress.
“Instead, we have experienced stagnation, recycled ideas, and little evidence of policy leadership that responds to Surulere’s evolving challenges,” Mr Badmus said.
He said the group’s position was not borne of malice or personal bias, but of a firm belief that no individual is bigger than the system.
“Leadership must remain accountable, renewable, and reflective of the evolving aspirations of the people.
He noted that the group “finds it necessary to address attempts by certain quarters to misrepresent this stance as being reactionary or tied to recent developments.”
He stressed the need for Surulere Constituency I to present individuals with fresh energy and new ideas.
The spokesman also called for a renewed commitment to people centred representation.
“As stakeholders, the forum affirms its commitment to upholding democratic values, promoting inclusive participation in leadership and ensuring that the voice of the people remains a priority.
“We call on well-meaning residents and supporters of democracy to stand firm in ensuring that Surulere is taken to greater heights by putting forward a candidate with fresh ideas and the ambition to take Surulere to greater heights,” he added.
Some residents of Surulere organised a rally on Tuesday in the area in support of the lawmaker’s bid for a fourth term.
Elliot, a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has represented Surulere Constituency I in the Lagos State House of Assembly since 2015. He was re-elected in 2019 and 2023.
