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Lagos State lawmaker Desmond Elliot has sought forgiveness from President Bola Tinubu’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, in a dramatic appeal for reconciliation after a bruising political battle within the Lagos APC.
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Elliot, who has acknowledged Gbajabiamila as his political mentor, expressed regret over his actions during the party’s internal crisis and appealed for another opportunity to rebuild their relationship and return fully into the Lagos APC political family.
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The appeal follows a bitter fallout over the Lagos State House of Assembly leadership crisis and Elliot’s failed bid to secure the APC ticket for another term in Surulere Constituency I.
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Elliot’s political future was thrown into uncertainty after the primary, with the three-term lawmaker moving from insisting on his political independence to publicly seeking forgiveness and pledging renewed loyalty to the Lagos APC leadership.
September 14, (THEWILL) – A dramatic video showing Lagos State House of Assembly member, Desmond Elliot, kneeling while appealing to President Bola Tinubu’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, for forgiveness has gone viral, underscoring the depth of the political crisis that has rocked the Surulere APC structure.
Elliot, who represents Surulere Constituency I, is seen in the video making an emotional plea to Gbajabiamila, whom he regards as his political mentor, as he seeks reconciliation and a return to the Lagos APC political family.
The development comes after a prolonged political disagreement involving the lawmaker and his former political backer, culminating in Elliot’s defeat in the APC primary for the Surulere Constituency I seat.
The actor-turned-politician has also admitted that he was misguided during the party’s previous political crisis and accepted the verdict of the people of Surulere, while pledging renewed loyalty to the Lagos APC leadership and the Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC).
From Protégé To Political Fallout
For years, Elliot’s political career in Surulere was closely associated with Gbajabiamila, the former Speaker of the House of Representatives and a powerful figure in the Lagos APC political structure.
Elliot entered the Lagos State House of Assembly in 2015 and retained the Surulere Constituency I seat in subsequent elections, establishing himself as one of the prominent figures in the Lagos political establishment.
But the relationship came under severe strain following the crisis that engulfed the Lagos State House of Assembly in January 2025 over the removal of Mudashiru Obasa as Speaker.
Gbajabiamila subsequently disclosed that the crisis nearly cost him his position as Tinubu’s Chief of Staff after intelligence reports allegedly linked Elliot to moves surrounding the speakership tussle.
According to Gbajabiamila, President Tinubu confronted him over the alleged involvement of Elliot, whom he had previously defended.
Gbajabiamila said he had initially told the President that Elliot was not involved because he believed in the lawmaker, before subsequently contacting him and asking him to distance himself from the unfolding crisis.
Elliot, however, denied masterminding the move against Obasa, saying he was outside the country when the Speaker was initially removed and only signed the impeachment document after returning to Nigeria and discovering that several lawmakers had already signed it.
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‘I’m Sorry, My Daddy’
Amid the growing tension, Elliot has apologised to Gbajabiamila.
The lawmaker acknowledged the enormous influence Gbajabiamila had exerted on his political career, describing him as his egbon (an elder brother) and admitting that he learnt virtually everything he knew about politics from him.
“Sorry. I have no excuse. I have nothing other than to say I’m sorry my daddy. To err is human, to forgive is divine. So I’m sorry, my daddy,” he pleaded on his knees.
Elliot also apologised to a woman he described as the “matriarch of Surulere”, while insisting that he remained committed to strengthening the APC and serving his constituents.
Lagos lawmaker and actor Desmond Elliot has gone on his knees to plead with President Bola Tinubu’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, seeking forgiveness and a return to the Lagos APC family.
Elliot reportedly admitted he was “misguided” during the last APC primary, while… pic.twitter.com/7sLI6MQa2u
— THEWILL NEWSPAPER (@THEWILLNG) September 14, 2026
Felix Ifijeh is a journalist with years of professional reporting experience. Known for his keen news sense, compelling storytelling and commitment to accurate, impactful reporting, he has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, engaging, and well-structured reports that resonate with readers. His work reflects deep newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate, impactful journalism.
