Lagos lawmaker and Nollywood actor, Desmond Elliot, has publicly apologised to the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, over political disagreements that reportedly strained their long-standing relationship.
Elliot made the apology during an appearance on TVC’s Your View program on Friday, where he spoke openly about his political journey, loyalty to his party, and the tension that followed the recent leadership crisis in the Lagos State House of Assembly.
The Surulere lawmaker said he remained grateful to Gbajabiamila, whom he described as his political mentor and elder brother, adding that any offence caused during political activities was not deliberate.
“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,” Elliot said during the interview.
The actor-turned-politician added that misunderstandings were common in political relationships 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 said.
Elliot also extended his apology to a woman he referred to as the “matriarch of Surulere,” saying he regretted any action that may have caused offence.
“To the matriarch of Surulere, mama, I’m sorry if I’ve offended you,” he added.
Despite the public apology, Elliot maintained that he remained committed to strengthening the ruling All Progressives Congress in Surulere and delivering democratic dividends to residents of his constituency.
“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 stated.
The apology has attracted attention because of the political tensions that emerged during the recent Lagos Assembly leadership crisis, which created divisions within the APC in the state and reportedly affected relationships among key political figures.
The crisis centred on disagreements over the leadership structure of the Lagos Assembly and generated intense political manoeuvring among lawmakers and influential party leaders. Though the dispute was eventually resolved through interventions by senior APC figures, it exposed cracks within the party in Lagos, widely regarded as the political base of President Bola Tinubu.
At the height of the controversy, Gbajabiamila had publicly revealed that he nearly lost his position as Chief of Staff because of intelligence reports linking Elliot to moves surrounding the Assembly speakership tussle.
According to Gbajabiamila, President Tinubu confronted him over reports suggesting that Elliot was involved in activities that could destabilise the Assembly leadership arrangement. The former Speaker of the House of Representatives, however, denied involvement in any plot and insisted he remained loyal to the President and the party.
Although details of Elliot’s alleged role were never fully made public, the controversy sparked widespread debate within political circles in Lagos and raised questions about loyalty, influence and power struggles within the ruling party.
Political observers say Elliot’s latest apology may be part of efforts to rebuild trust and restore unity among APC leaders in Surulere and across Lagos State ahead of future political contests.
Elliot, who represents Surulere Constituency I in the Lagos State House of Assembly, first entered politics in 2015 after gaining popularity as a Nollywood actor and movie producer. He won his seat under the APC platform and has since remained active in Lagos politics.
Over the years, he has often acknowledged Gbajabiamila as one of the major figures who guided his political career. Gbajabiamila himself is one of the most influential politicians from Surulere and has maintained strong political structures in the area for many years.
The relationship between both men was widely believed to be close until recent political developments reportedly created tension between them.
In Lagos politics particularly, party unity is often treated as a major priority because of the influence the APC continues to wield in the state. Senior party figures usually move quickly to settle disputes to avoid internal crises that could weaken the party ahead of elections.
Some political commentators believe Elliot’s apology may help calm tensions within the Surulere political camp, especially among supporters of both politicians. Others, however, say it remains to be seen whether the apology will fully mend the relationship between the lawmaker and the presidential aide.
Residents and political supporters in Surulere have also reacted differently to the development. While some praised Elliot for showing humility and respect to an elder political figure, others argued that the crisis reflected deeper problems within party politics in the state.
The Lagos Assembly crisis itself had generated weeks of political uncertainty before party leaders stepped in to restore peace. Several reports at the time suggested that competing interests within the APC were behind the leadership disagreement.
Though the immediate crisis has now subsided, political analysts believe the incident revealed the growing influence battles among different camps within the ruling party in Lagos.
For Elliot, however, Friday’s public apology appeared aimed at drawing a line under the controversy and reaffirming his loyalty to both the party and the political family that helped shape his career.
By openly acknowledging Gbajabiamila as his political mentor and asking for forgiveness, the lawmaker signalled his desire for reconciliation at a time when party unity remains important within Lagos APC circles.
Whether the apology will fully heal old wounds remains uncertain, but it has once again highlighted the delicate nature of political relationships and loyalty within Nigeria’s ruling party.