TD Lagos State House of Assembly member, Desmond Elliot, has renewed efforts to mend his relationship with Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, following a bitter political dispute within the Lagos chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Elliot was seen in a video kneeling before Gbajabiamila over the weekend.
He pleaded for forgiveness during a meeting involving the former Speaker of the House of Representatives and other party chieftains.
In the footage, Elliot expressed regret over his actions and appealed to Gbajabiamila not to remain angry with him.
“I’m sorry. I have no excuse; I have nothing other than to say I’m deeply sorry.
“I’m deeply sorry, sir. And in our culture, we prostrate. Don’t be angry, Daddy,” Elliot said.
Gbajabiamila subsequently asked him to get up.
The Sun reported that he also sought reconciliation with the APC leadership in Lagos and pledged to renew his loyalty to the party’s leadership.
Fallout Over Lagos Assembly Leadership Crisis
The latest apology comes against the backdrop of a political disagreement between Elliot and Gbajabiamila that intensified during the crisis surrounding the leadership of the Lagos State House of Assembly.
Gbajabiamila had previously said Elliot played a role in moves surrounding the 2025 attempt to remove Mudashiru Obasa as Speaker of the Assembly.
According to reports, Gbajabiamila said he had asked Elliot to publicly dissociate himself from the impeachment move.
However, he alleged that the lawmaker failed to do so.
Elliot, however, said he believed the move had the backing of President Tinubu at the time and expressed surprise at Gbajabiamila’s subsequent position.
The dispute damaged what had previously been described as a close political relationship between the two men.
Elliot had repeatedly referred to Gbajabiamila as his political mentor.
Elliot Lost APC Ticket to Gbajabiamila-Backed Aspirant
The political disagreement became particularly significant during the APC primary for Surulere Constituency I in May 2026.
Elliot had represented the constituency for three terms and was seeking a fourth term.
He lost the APC ticket to Barakat Odunuga-Bakare, an aspirant backed by Gbajabiamila.
According to the results, Odunuga-Bakare secured 11,385 votes, while Elliot polled 270 votes.
Elliot had earlier withdrawn from the primary, alleging intimidation and political pressure against his supporters.
He subsequently rejected the outcome and indicated that he would challenge the process through the party’s internal appeal mechanism.
The result effectively ended Elliot’s bid for another term in the Lagos Assembly on the APC platform.
A Second Public Apology by Elliot
Weekend’s development was not Elliot’s first attempt to apologise to Gbajabiamila.
During an earlier appearance on TVC’s Your View, he acknowledged the political leader as his mentor and appealed for forgiveness.
He said the misunderstanding between them was not deliberate and asked Gbajabiamila to forgive him if he had offended him.
The latest appearance, however, appeared more dramatic.
Elliot went on his knees and prostrated in accordance with Yoruba cultural tradition while asking for reconciliation.
What Happens Next?
It remains unclear whether Gbajabiamila or the Lagos APC leadership has formally accepted Elliot back into the party’s political structure.
Reports have described Elliot’s move as a bid to return to the APC fold.
Meanwhile, available reports establish more directly that he is seeking reconciliation and renewed acceptance within the Lagos APC leadership.
There is no indication in the reports reviewed that he was formally expelled from the APC.
His latest appeal comes as political alignments within Lagos continue to take shape ahead of the 2027 elections.
