Residents in Surulere, Lagos have tasked the lawmaker representing Surulere Constituency 1 in the Lagos State House of Assembly, Desmond Olusola Elliot, with prioritizing youth empowerment and increasing community engagement. They made this charge at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Surulere, Lagos, where Elliot officially picked up his nomination form to seek re-election under the banner of Experience Over Experiment.
Residents Express Expectations
Speaking on behalf of some constituents, Bola Majefejo highlighted Elliot's proactive legislative efforts. “He has been a proactive lawmaker who has done many things in my community, such as providing boreholes and roads in Ward E1 Ojuelegba. On a personal level, he gave me money when my grandchild gained admission to a tertiary institution,” Majefejo said.
Another resident, Vivian Itohan, shared her expectations: “He has helped widows and facilitated more projects. He should pay more attention to youth unemployment and improve road infrastructure.”
Taofikat Abdurauf praised Elliot's representation: “He is a good representative who has invested in education, youth, women, and health. We want him to return to do more. We want him to focus on youth empowerment before the election. The youth are rooting for him, so he should reciprocate their love.”
Political Hurdles and Grassroots Support
Elliot’s decision to run comes at a high-stakes moment, as he faces a significant political challenge: an alleged shift in the local power structure. Speculation has intensified following signals that Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to the President and a political heavyweight, has thrown his influential support behind another candidate to replace Elliot. Despite this formidable endorsement of a new candidate, Elliot indicated that he remains resolute, relying on deep-rooted grassroots connections and a silent majority of constituents who have benefited from his localized intervention programs over the years.
Elliot's Vision and Achievements
Speaking with The Guardian in Ayinde Giwa, Elliot emphasized his experience and commitment: “I am better in experience, and I am going into the house to get more things for my people. We still need more roads, more jobs, and better development. I want to make sure the Institute of Legislative Study comes to life. We had almost zero flooding problems in Surulere in 2025.”
When asked about those who claim he has not done enough to secure the party ticket, Elliot responded: “There is no state assembly member that does it consistently from the beginning like myself. The people are with me, and I don’t think you should be asking me but the people. I am appealing to our leaders to give me another chance, and if there is any way I have erred, I am sorry.”
Elliot also highlighted his achievements: “I have built more roads and better infrastructure. All the inter-streets are being swept, and that is done by me. I once spent N75 million on someone to repair her spine.”
