Desmond Elliot Apologises to Gbajabiamila Over Lagos Assembly Crisis

Lagos lawmaker and Nollywood actor Desmond Elliot has publicly apologised to the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, over political disagreements linked to the recent leadership crisis in the Lagos State House of Assembly.

Elliot made the apology during an appearance on TVC’s programme Your View on Friday, where he acknowledged that misunderstandings may have occurred in the course of political engagements and party activities.

The Surulere lawmaker described Gbajabiamila as a political mentor and senior figure from whom he learned much of his political experience, insisting that any offence caused was unintentional.

“Yes, because he’s my egbon. And I grew up learning everything I knew in politics through him,” Elliot said during the interview.

He added that disagreements and human errors were sometimes unavoidable in politics and appealed for forgiveness.

“To err is human, to forgive is divine. So I’m sorry, my daddy, if I’ve offended you in any way,” he stated.

Elliot also extended a separate apology to what he described as the “matriarch of Surulere,” expressing regret if his actions had offended political stakeholders within the constituency.

The apology comes months after tensions within the All Progressives Congress over the Lagos State House of Assembly leadership crisis generated controversy and internal divisions within the party.

The crisis, which centred on disputes surrounding the Assembly speakership and political alignments, reportedly triggered intense behind-the-scenes disagreements among influential figures within Lagos politics before it was eventually resolved through high-level interventions.

Gbajabiamila had earlier disclosed publicly that the controversy nearly affected his position as Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu.

According to him, the President confronted him over intelligence reports allegedly linking Elliot to moves connected to the Assembly leadership tussle.

Gbajabiamila, however, denied any involvement in destabilising the Assembly and suggested at the time that the situation had created unnecessary political tension.

Elliot’s latest comments are being interpreted by political observers as an attempt to mend relationships within the Lagos APC structure ahead of growing political activities leading to the 2027 general elections.

Despite the apology, the actor-turned-politician maintained that his focus remains on strengthening the ruling party and delivering democratic dividends to residents of Surulere.

“My scorecard is there. You know the things I’ve done to make Surulere a better place,” he said.

Elliot has represented Surulere Constituency in the Lagos State House of Assembly since 2015 after transitioning from a successful acting career into politics.

Over the years, he has remained one of the most recognisable entertainers in Nigerian politics, although his political journey has occasionally generated controversy, especially on social media.

Analysts say his public reconciliation effort reflects the importance of political loyalty and internal harmony within the Lagos APC, where influential political relationships often shape leadership structures and electoral outcomes.

The Lagos Assembly crisis itself exposed deeper factional tensions within the ruling party and highlighted the strategic importance of Lagos politics within Nigeria’s broader political landscape.