A coalition of concerned stakeholders in Surulere, Surulere Accountability Forum, says it is opposed to Desmond Elliot’s return to the Lagos State House of Assembly as member representing Surulere Constituency I.
The coalition’s spokesperson, Olanrewaju Badmus, who announced this on Wednesday in Lagos, said Elliot’s previous three terms were marred by sub-par performance, weak policy innovation and failure to proactively address local needs.
Badmus said community leaders, youth groups, small-business representatives and civil society organisations had collectively assessed Elliot’s performance and found it wanting, adding that the lawmaker delovered minimal constituency projects showing limited legislative impact.
He said 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,” Badmus said.
He said the group’s position was not borne out of malice or personal bias, but from 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,” adding that there was the need for Surulere Constituency 1 to present individuals with fresh energy and new ideas.
The spokesman also called for a renewed commitment to people-centred representation.
