Desmond Elliot Apologises to Gbajabiamila, Seeks Return to APC

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