By Wellington Jopelo
A new wave of tension has hit the Surulere chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State after stakeholders accused some powerful party figures of trying to force a preferred candidate ahead of the House of Assembly primaries.
The disagreement is causing serious division within the local party structure, with some members insisting that internal democracy is being ignored in favour of a pre-arranged outcome.
At the centre of the controversy is actor-turned-politician Desmond Elliott, who is seeking another term in the Lagos State House of Assembly. His supporters say there is a quiet move to sideline him despite his years in office and grassroots presence in Surulere.
Some party members allege that the process is being influenced by top political interests linked to former House of Representatives Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila, who is widely respected in Lagos politics.
One stakeholder who spoke during a political discussion described the situation as unfair, claiming that the choice of candidate had already been “decided before the real contest begins.”
He also alleged that some party members and local government appointees are being pressured to support a specific aspirant, with warnings that refusal could affect their positions.
According to him, this kind of pressure is damaging trust within the party and could weaken participation in the primaries.
He questioned why some local leaders were openly showing support for one aspirant instead of allowing a level playing field for all contestants.
The controversy also includes claims that supporters of rival aspirants have been quietly pushed out of some party activities and empowerment programmes within the council area.
The development has reopened debate about how candidates are chosen within the APC in Surulere, especially as more aspirants enter the race ahead of the primaries.
Elliott’s supporters argue that the opposition against him is not about performance but politics, saying he has contributed to legislative work through motions, committee roles, and constituency efforts over his time in office.
They also insist that lawmakers are elected mainly to represent the people and work on laws, not to personally fund major government projects.
Other aspirants, including Buki Afario and a younger contender known as Leye, are also said to be part of the race, with supporters calling for a fair contest instead of behind-the-scenes selection.
Attempts to settle on a single “consensus candidate” reportedly failed after disagreements among different camps within the party.
As things stand, neither Surulere APC leaders nor the key political figures mentioned have publicly responded to the allegations.
The situation has left the party deeply divided, with growing pressure for the primaries to be conducted openly to avoid further internal crisis ahead of the elections.