Nollywood actor-turned-politician and member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Desmond Elliot, has apologised to Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, over his actions during the last All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election in Lagos.
Elliot, in a viral video now circulating on social media, is seen on his knees pleading with Gbajabiamila for forgiveness and seeking reintegration into the ruling APC in the state.
“I’m sorry, I have no excuse, I have nothing other than to say I’m deeply sorry and I am hoping to be cultured in the future,” Elliot said.
The development followed a disagreement between Elliot and the party leadership after the APC primary election for the Surulere State Constituency I seat in May.
Elliot had withdrawn from the exercise, alleging intimidation and political pressure against his supporters.
He subsequently rejected the outcome of the primary election and said he would challenge the process through the party’s appeal mechanism.
The lawmaker eventually lost the APC ticket to Barakat Odunuga-Bakare, who was believed to enjoy the backing of Gbajabiamila.
Odunuga-Bakare polled 11,385 votes to defeat Elliot, who secured 270 votes in the primary.
Elliot, 52, has represented the Surulere State Constituency I since 2015 and was seeking to be elected for the fourth term in 2027.
He fell out of favour after his alleged involvement in the plot to impeach Mudashiru Obasa as the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly.
Gbajabiamila, who had supported Elliot in previous election cycles, withdrew his support, saying backing the former actor nearly cost him his job as the President’s Chief of Staff.
He said he was confronted by President Tinubu over Elliot’s involvement in the deft move to sack Obasa, a strong ally of Tinubu.
But Elliot explained that he signed the impeachment document that removed Obasa from office, thinking the decision was sanctioned by the Presidency.
He noted that many lawmakers also initially believed the move had Tinubu’s backing, adding that they later received clarification from the President that the impeachment did not have his approval.
The Lagos Assembly crisis began on January 13, 2025 when a majority of lawmakers removed Obasa as Speaker while heDesmond Elliot Kneels Before Gbajabiamila, Apologises Over APC was outside the country.
The lawmakers accused him of gross misconduct, abuse of office, high-handedness, poor leadership style, persistent lateness to plenary sessions, and alleged financial mismanagement of Assembly funds.
Following his removal, his deputy, Mojisola Meranda, was elected Speaker, becoming the first woman to lead the Assembly.
Obasa, however, rejected the impeachment, insisting that due process was not followed.
The controversy triggered weeks of political tension within the Assembly and the Lagos chapter of the APC, leading to court cases, rival claims to leadership and interventions by party leaders before Obasa was eventually reinstated after Meranda resigned as Speaker.
