Stakeholders in Surulere Constituency 1, Lagos State, are calling on incumbent lawmaker Desmond Elliot to step aside, rejecting his bid for a fourth term in the Lagos State House of Assembly
Elliot, a former movie star turned politician, has represented the constituency since 2015. He now faces a strong challenge from Barakat Odunuga-Bakare, the former Special Adviser on Housing to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who resigned to contest the seat.
Observers note that Odunuga-Bakare, seen as a protégé of House of Representatives Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila, enjoys significant backing from the Presidency.
Elliot’s earlier edge, supported by his celebrity status and backing from entertainment figures like Funsho Adeola, is reportedly waning. Critics argue that, as a non-indigene who grew up in Surulere, Elliot has overstayed his welcome, with party members insisting that three terms should be sufficient.
Olanrewaju Badmus, spokesman for the Surulere Accountability Forum, criticized Elliot’s tenure, citing weak policy innovation, limited legislative impact, and a failure to meet local needs.
“Three terms should have produced clear, measurable progress. Instead, we have experienced stagnation, recycled ideas, and little evidence of responsive leadership,” Badmus said. He added that the call for change is not personal but grounded in the principle that leadership must be accountable and reflect the people’s evolving needs.
“We urge Surulere to present candidates with fresh energy and ideas capable of addressing infrastructure decay, youth unemployment, and inadequate healthcare,” he noted.
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