Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Lagos State lawmaker and Nollywood actor, Desmond Elliot, has publicly apologised to his political mentor and the Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, acknowledging that he may have unintentionally offended him during the course of his political engagements. Elliot made the apology on Friday, May 15, 2026, during an appearance on TVC’s “Your View” programme, stating that any misunderstanding between them was unintentional and reaffirming his commitment to party unity and development in his Surulere constituency. The apology follows a dramatic disclosure by Gbajabiamila that the political crisis surrounding the 2025 Lagos State House of Assembly leadership turmoil nearly cost him his position at the Presidency, with President Tinubu personally linking Elliot to the crisis.
Elliot, who represents Surulere Constituency 1 in the Lagos State House of Assembly, traced his political journey to Gbajabiamila, whom he described as his “egbon” (big brother). “I’m not saying, oh, yes, media will come out, oh yes, Desmond begs again. Yes, because he’s my egbon. And I grew up learning everything I knew in politics through him,” he said. He added that mistakes were inevitable in political relationships, quoting the adage, “To err is human, to forgive is divine.” Elliot then addressed his mentor directly: “So I’m sorry, my daddy, if I’ve offended you in any way.” He also extended an apology to the “matriarch of Surulere,” expressing regret over any offence caused. Despite the apology, Elliot maintained that he remained focused on strengthening the party and delivering on his mandate to constituents. “But I will keep keeping the party strong. And to all Surulerians, my scorecard is there. You know the things I’ve done to make Surulere a better place,” he said.
The apology follows a period of intense political tension rooted in the January 2025 impeachment of Mudashiru Obasa, then Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, over allegations of misconduct and abuse of office. The crisis deepened when Deputy Speaker Mojisola Meranda briefly became the first woman to occupy the speakership, but after 49 days and high-level interventions, Obasa was reinstated. Speaking at an APC stakeholders’ meeting in Lagos on Thursday, May 14, Gbajabiamila revealed that President Tinubu had summoned him to his Abuja residence during the crisis and confronted him over intelligence reports linking Elliot to the moves against Obasa. “I almost lost my job as Chief of Staff last year because of Desmond Elliot,” Gbajabiamila told party members. “The President called me to his study and said, ‘I hear this one is your boy, the one we gave you.’ I replied, ‘Yes, sir.’ He then told me, ‘He is part of the people causing problems in the Lagos State House of Assembly.’”
Gbajabiamila said he initially defended Elliot, insisting to the President that his protégé was not involved. However, he later contacted Elliot and urged him to publicly distance himself from the impeachment plot if he was indeed involved. According to Gbajabiamila, the situation worsened days later when the Director‑General of the Department of State Services (DSS) informed him that his own name was being circulated in connection with the crisis, with allegations that he was backing Elliot. “Three days later, the Director‑General of the DSS called me and said, ‘There’s a problem. Your name is being mentioned all over the place; they say you are the one behind and supporting Desmond in this,’” Gbajabiamila recalled. He added that despite his repeated requests, Elliot reportedly declined to issue a public denial. “If I didn’t have the kind of relationship I have with Mr President, I wouldn’t be here today,” Gbajabiamila said. He also accused Elliot of stoking religious divisions within Surulere constituency, alleging that the lawmaker wrote official letters that deepened tensions between Muslim and Christian constituents.
Elliot’s public apology, delivered on Friday, appears aimed at mending the strained relationship and securing Gbajabiamila’s continued support. The actor‑turned‑politician is seeking a fourth term in the Lagos State House of Assembly, and the backing of the Chief of Staff is widely seen as critical to his success in the APC primaries. Elliot’s apology also follows a recent public appeal by members of the Surulere community, who had pleaded with Gbajabiamila to forgive the lawmaker. At a gathering on May 13, community leader Alhaji Tunde Lawal had directly addressed the Chief of Staff: “I have told Gbajabiamila to forgive Desmond if he has offended him in any way.”
Political analysts see the apology as a strategic move to consolidate support ahead of the party primaries. With the APC’s internal processes now underway, Elliot’s ability to retain his seat hinges on the endorsement of key party leaders, including Gbajabiamila, who remains an influential figure in Lagos politics. The Chief of Staff’s public airing of the dispute and his near‑firing by President Tinubu underscored the seriousness of the fallout, and Elliot’s contrition appears aimed at demonstrating loyalty and deference to the party hierarchy.
The Lagos Assembly crisis, which saw Obasa removed, Meranda briefly elevated, and Obasa eventually reinstated after a court nullified the impeachment process, has left lasting scars on the state’s political landscape. The episode also highlighted the extent of presidential intervention in state legislative affairs, with Tinubu personally mediating to restore order. While Elliot’s apology may help heal the rift with his mentor, the broader implications for party unity in Lagos remain to be seen. As Gbajabiamila himself noted, the experience nearly cost him his position at the Presidency, a warning that even the most loyal political foot soldiers are not immune to the consequences of perceived disloyalty.
For now, the ball is in Gbajabiamila’s court. The Chief of Staff has yet to issue a formal response to Elliot’s apology, but his remarks at the stakeholders’ meeting suggest that the relationship, though damaged, may not be beyond repair. “If it were not that I had the kind of relationship I had with the president, I wouldn’t be here today,” he had said, a statement that, while underscoring the gravity of the situation, also leaves room for reconciliation. For Elliot, the actor‑turned‑lawmaker who once dreamed of higher office, this public act of contrition may be the most important performance of his political career.
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