Lagos lawmaker Desmond Elliot has publicly apologised to President Bola Tinubu’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, in a dramatic reconciliation that appears to have ended tensions between the two politicians following the controversial APC primary in Surulere.
Elliot, a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, knelt before Gbajabiamila on Sunday and pleaded for forgiveness over the disagreement that erupted during the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election.
The dramatic moment, captured in a video shared on Lagos Junction’s social media platforms, marked the first widely publicised meeting between the two politicians since the contentious primary.
The dispute stemmed from the contest for the APC ticket to represent Surulere Constituency I, where Gbajabiamila reportedly backed Barakat Odunuga-Bakare against Elliot, who was seeking re-election.
Odunuga-Bakare eventually emerged victorious after Elliot withdrew from the contest, alleging that his supporters had been intimidated and prevented from accessing the voting venue.
Elliot had claimed that he repeatedly appealed to electoral officials to allow his supporters into the venue but that his pleas were ignored. He also alleged that several of his supporters remained outside despite interventions to resolve the situation.
The development reportedly created tension between Elliot and Gbajabiamila, a former Speaker of the House of Representatives and a prominent political figure in Surulere.
However, the rift appeared to have taken a new turn on Sunday when Elliot met with Gbajabiamila and openly sought reconciliation.
“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 while seeking forgiveness.
Gbajabiamila, appearing to accept the apology, asked the lawmaker to get up.
“There is no… please, get up,” he said.
In a statement posted on Instagram after the meeting, Elliot further sought to put the disagreement behind him, describing Gbajabiamila as his “political father, mentor, and leader”.
The lawmaker expressed gratitude for Gbajabiamila’s longstanding guidance, support and investment in his political career.
“I remain committed to the ideals of loyalty, service, and respect for party leadership; my respect and loyalty to Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila remains unwavering. Everything I have achieved politically is all for Surulerians,” Elliot said.
He also appealed for unity among members of the APC, urging them to remain focused on strengthening the party and advancing the interests of Surulere, Lagos State and Nigeria.
Elliot said political differences should not be allowed to destroy relationships built over years of trust and shared commitment.
“It is therefore important for me to publicly state that no political ambition or temporary disagreement is worth damaging a relationship built on years of trust, guidance, and shared commitment to the progress of our party and our people,” he said.
The reconciliation brings an apparent end to a period of tension between the two politicians and underscores Elliot’s renewed pledge of loyalty to the APC leadership in Lagos.
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