Desmond Elliot Apologises to Gbajabiamila, Seeks Return to APC

Former Lagos State House of Assembly member Desmond Elliot has publicly apologised to former Speaker of the House of Representatives and current Chief of Staff to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, as he seeks to repair their relationship and return fully to the fold of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Elliot, who represented Surulere Constituency I in the Lagos State House of Assembly from 2015, made the appeal amid renewed political activity ahead of the 2027 elections and after losing the APC ticket for the constituency in the party’s latest primary.

The former Nollywood actor’s latest appeal is the latest development in a political relationship that has experienced considerable strain in recent years.

Elliot had been regarded as a prominent political associate of Gbajabiamila, who represents Surulere in the broader Lagos political structure. Their relationship, however, came under pressure following political developments surrounding the Lagos State House of Assembly leadership crisis.

In his latest appeal, Elliot asked Gbajabiamila to forgive him for any offence he may have committed and expressed his desire for reconciliation.

The former lawmaker’s move comes after he failed to secure the APC nomination for Surulere Constituency I, effectively ending his bid for another term in the Lagos Assembly under the party.

Barakat Olawunmi Odunuga-Bakare emerged as the APC candidate following the party’s primary election.

The outcome marked a major setback for Elliot, who had sought to continue his legislative career after serving in the Assembly since 2015.

The political fallout between Elliot and sections of the Lagos APC leadership had previously become public during the controversy surrounding the leadership of the Lagos State House of Assembly.

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In May 2026, Elliot had also publicly apologised to Gbajabiamila, referring to him as his political mentor and acknowledging that he might have offended him.

“To err is human, to forgive is divine,” Elliot said while appealing for forgiveness.

He also denied allegations that he was involved in moves against then-Lagos Assembly Speaker Mudashiru Obasa, whose leadership had become the subject of intense political controversy.

Gbajabiamila had earlier said that he defended Elliot during the crisis and that the controversy had placed his own position as Chief of Staff to President Tinubu under pressure.

According to Gbajabiamila, allegations surrounding Elliot had contributed to a situation in which he was forced to explain his position to the President. He maintained that he had defended the former lawmaker and told Tinubu that Elliot was not part of the group behind the moves against Obasa.

The dispute therefore went beyond a personal disagreement and became intertwined with the wider political contest within the Lagos APC.

Elliot’s latest reconciliation effort comes against the backdrop of the changing political dynamics in Surulere and Lagos as political parties begin positioning themselves for the 2027 general elections.

The former lawmaker’s defeat in the APC primary also means that he will not return to the Lagos Assembly through the party’s ticket for the next legislative term.

The APC primary was described by Gbajabiamila as peaceful, fair and orderly, despite reports of tensions surrounding the contest and Elliot’s concerns about the process.

Elliot had previously obtained the APC nomination form in his bid to return to the Assembly, but he ultimately failed to secure the party’s endorsement.

Following the primary defeat, reports emerged that the former actor had returned to Nollywood, reviving his entertainment career after more than a decade in active politics.

Elliot became a household name in Nigeria through his work as an actor before entering politics. He represented Surulere Constituency I in the Lagos Assembly for three consecutive terms beginning in 2015.

His political career has been closely associated with the Lagos APC political structure, making his relationship with influential party figures particularly important to his future political ambitions.

The latest apology is therefore being viewed not only as an attempt to resolve a personal political disagreement but also as part of Elliot’s effort to rebuild relationships within the ruling party.

For the former lawmaker, reconciliation with Gbajabiamila could potentially help restore his standing within the Lagos political establishment, although his immediate political future remains uncertain following his loss at the APC primary.

The development also comes at a time when political alignments are rapidly evolving ahead of 2027, with politicians across Lagos and other parts of the country reassessing their alliances, party positions and electoral strategies.

While Elliot has expressed a desire to return to the APC fold, the extent to which the reconciliation will translate into a renewed political role remains unclear.

For now, his public appeal to Gbajabiamila marks another attempt by the former lawmaker to close a difficult chapter in their political relationship and rebuild bridges within the Lagos APC.

Desmond Elliot Apologises to Gbajabiamila, Seeks Return to APC

2027: Sowore Promises ₦500,000 Minimum Wage, Free Education, 24-Hour Electricity

African Action Congress presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore has unveiled an ambitious agenda for the 2027 presidential election, promising a ₦500,000 monthly living minimum wage, 24-hour electricity, free education and the construction of one million public mixed-income homes if elected president.

Sowore said the proposals were part of the AAC’s 2027 agenda, which he described as a programme focused on improving living standards, expanding access to essential services and fundamentally changing the way Nigeria’s economy is managed.

At the centre of the proposal is a ₦500,000 minimum wage, which Sowore said would give Nigerian workers a more realistic income in the face of rising living costs.

He argued that workers should not continue to receive wages that are inadequate to meet basic needs while the cost of food, housing, transportation, healthcare and education continues to increase.

Sowore’s proposed wage would represent a substantial increase over Nigeria’s existing statutory minimum wage and would have significant implications for both public-sector finances and private employers if implemented nationwide.

The AAC candidate also promised to deliver 24-hour electricity, making reliable power supply a central pillar of his economic programme.

Sowore argued that Nigeria cannot achieve meaningful industrialisation when businesses and households remain heavily dependent on generators because of unreliable electricity supply.

He said his administration would prioritise the power sector to ensure that electricity becomes a dependable foundation for industrial production, small businesses, job creation and economic growth.

The presidential hopeful also promised free education at all levels, arguing that poverty should not prevent Nigerian children and young people from accessing quality education.

He said his proposed education policy would seek to remove financial barriers that prevent families from keeping their children in school, while improving access to educational opportunities.

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Housing is another major component of Sowore’s proposed programme.

He promised to construct one million public mixed-income homes, saying the initiative would help address Nigeria’s housing shortage while providing more affordable accommodation for people across different income groups.

He also proposed reforms to the country’s tenancy system, including measures to address the widespread practice of demanding lengthy rent advances from tenants.

Sowore said his government would treat healthcare as a right rather than a privilege, with increased investment in the country’s health system and measures designed to reduce the need for Nigerians to travel abroad for medical treatment.

His economic programme also includes plans to industrialise Nigeria, expand agriculture, improve infrastructure and create more dignified employment opportunities.

Sowore said agriculture would receive greater attention under his proposed administration, particularly through increased local production, processing and value addition.

He has argued that Nigeria should move away from excessive dependence on the export of raw commodities and instead develop industries capable of processing its agricultural and mineral resources locally.

The AAC candidate also promised reforms in the security sector, including improved welfare for security personnel and greater use of technology in combating terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other forms of criminality.

He proposed the deployment of modern technologies, including drones and intelligence systems, as part of efforts to strengthen security operations.

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Sowore has positioned his campaign as an alternative to Nigeria’s established political order, arguing that successive governments have failed to adequately tackle poverty, corruption, unemployment, inequality and poor public services.

He said Nigeria’s resources should be used to improve the quality of life of ordinary citizens rather than being concentrated among a relatively small political and economic elite.

The AAC candidate has also said his campaign would seek financial support from ordinary Nigerians, rather than relying heavily on wealthy political patrons.

According to Sowore, a people-funded campaign would allow the party to maintain greater independence and remain accountable to citizens rather than powerful sponsors.

His proposals come as political parties and presidential candidates begin positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 Nigerian presidential election.

Sowore is seeking to build on his previous presidential campaigns and present the AAC as a distinct alternative to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and other established political parties.

The scale of his latest promises is likely to generate debate over their cost, funding and implementation.

A ₦500,000 minimum wage would significantly increase personnel costs for governments and could also place additional pressure on private-sector employers. Its implementation would therefore require careful consideration of productivity, inflation, government revenue and the ability of businesses to absorb higher labour costs.

Delivering 24-hour electricity would similarly require substantial investment in power generation, transmission and distribution, as well as reforms to address longstanding challenges involving gas supply, infrastructure, electricity pricing and distribution efficiency.

The proposed construction of one million homes and the provision of free education would also require significant public funding, planning and institutional capacity.

Sowore’s campaign is therefore placing a combination of higher wages, reliable electricity, free education, affordable housing, healthcare, industrialisation, job creation and security reforms at the centre of its 2027 message.

As the political contest gathers momentum, the feasibility and funding of competing candidates’ promises are expected to become important issues for voters assessing the various options ahead of the election.

2027: Sowore Promises ₦500,000 Minimum Wage, Free Education, 24-Hour Electricity

Zamfara leadership commits full support to the re-election bid as Campaign Director-General Abdul’aziz Yari meets with local stakeholders.

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