The lawmaker representing Surulere 1 Constituency in the Lagos State House of Assembly, Desmond Elliot, has dismissed reports that the All Progressives Congress (APC) leadership, including Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, are backing the immediate past Lagos Special Adviser on Housing, Barakat Odunuga-Bakare, to replace him in the Assembly.
PrimeTimes Nigeria reports that Elliot, who is seeking a fourth term in the Lagos State House of Assembly, made this known during an interview on Channels Television’s ‘Sunrise Daily’, programme.
Despite the speculation about Gbajabiamila and other party leaders backing Odunuga, Desmond Elliot said no party leader, including the Chief of Staff to the President, had asked him to step down from the race ahead of the party primaries.
He said, “Because I was not asked by him, my leader (Gbajabiamila), never.
“Even the day I declared, I flew to Abuja to see him again to tell him, ‘Oga’, which is how I call him, ‘Oga, I am here again.’
“But at the end of the day, I am here to also serve the people. I do have the leadership, I do have the people. So, the president has said let the people decide. If they want you to continue, you continue.”
The Nollywood actor-turned-politician also alleged that members of his political camp in Surulere were being intimidated and called on the party leadership to intervene.
He added, “We are being intimidated in Surulere. If you know you are popular on ground, do not intimidate the people.”