Residents in Surulere, Lagos have the tasked lawmaker representing Surulere Constituency 1 in the Lagos, Desmond Olusola Elliot on youth empowerment and more community engagement.  They made the charge at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.

Elliot officially picked up his nomination form to seek re-election under the banner of Experience Over Experiment.  Speaking Bola Majefejo, “He has been a proactive lawmakers who has done so many things in my community such as borehole, roads in Ward E1 Ojuelegba.

On personal ground, he gave me money when my grandchild got admission into tertiary institution.

When asked about her expectations from the lawmaker, another resident, Vivian Itohan, said: “He has help the widows, facilitated more projects. He should pay more attention to youth unemployment and more road infrastructure.

When asked if Elliot is a good representative, Taofikat Abdurauf, said: “He’s a good representative who has invested in education, youth, women and health. We want him to return to do more. We want him to do more regarding youth empowerment before the election. The youth are rooting for him so, he should pay back their love.”

The decision to run comes at a high-stakes moment, as Elliot faces his most significant political hurdle yet: the reported shift in the local power structure.

Speculation has intensified following signals that the Chief of Staff to the President and political heavyweight, Femi Gbajabiamila, has thrown his influential support behind another candidate to replace him. Despite this formidable endorsement of a new candidate, Elliot indicated that he remains resolute, leaning on a deep-rooted grassroots connection and a silent majority of constituents who have benefited from his localized intervention programs over the years.

Speaking with The Guardian in Ayinde Giwa, Elliot said he’s better in experience and he’s going into the house to get more things for his 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 problem in Surulere in 2025.

When asked about those who claim he has not done enough to get the ticket for the party, he said: “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.”

“I have built more roads, better infrastructure, all the inter-street are being swept and that’s done by me. I once spent N75 million on someone to repair her spine.”