Desmond Elliot has reportedly knelt before Femi Gbajabiamila during an APC gathering in Lagos, seeking forgiveness over past political tensions linked to the party’s internal disputes.
LAGOS, NIGERIA — Lagos lawmaker and former Nollywood actor Desmond Elliot has reportedly knelt before President Bola Tinubu’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, seeking forgiveness over past political disagreements during an All Progressives Congress gathering in Surulere.
According to videos and social-media posts circulating from the event, Elliot appeared before Gbajabiamila and pleaded for reconciliation after tensions that reportedly followed the last APC primary and earlier disagreements within the party. Multiple posts described the moment as Elliot seeking reintegration into the APC political family.
Scenes like this is why I always believe Nigerian politics isn't for me.
— 👑S.A.L.A.K.O🕊 (@UnkleAyo) September 13, 2026
This is Desmond Idiot, a grown man in his 50s, on both knees for a fellow man who also bleeds blood & snores at night.
I'm 32 & I would rather eat fried granite & lava.
What the actual fuck is this.…
Reviews by Newstridez show that the latest reconciliation comes against the background of a political relationship that has attracted attention in Lagos for years. Gbajabiamila has been regarded as Elliot’s political mentor, while Elliot represents Surulere Constituency I in the Lagos State House of Assembly and is seeking another term under the APC.
The development also follows an earlier public apology by Elliot. In May, the lawmaker apologised to Gbajabiamila during an appearance on TVC’s Your View, saying he could have offended his political mentor during the course of their political engagements.
“To err is human, to forgive is divine. So I’m sorry, my daddy, if I’ve offended you in any way,” Elliot said during the programme.
Elliot also described Gbajabiamila as his “egbon”, explaining that he learnt much of what he knows about politics from him. He said the disagreement did not change his commitment to the APC or his desire to continue serving residents of Surulere.
The latest kneeling gesture therefore appears to extend a reconciliation effort that Elliot had already begun publicly. It comes at a time when political calculations are intensifying in Lagos ahead of the 2027 elections, with party members seeking to maintain unity and strengthen their positions across constituencies.
The relationship between the two politicians had come under pressure during the Lagos State House of Assembly leadership crisis. Gbajabiamila later disclosed that Elliot’s alleged involvement in the dispute nearly cost him his position as Chief of Staff to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Speaking to APC supporters in Surulere in May, Gbajabiamila said Tinubu had confronted him over intelligence suggesting that Elliot was involved in moves against former Lagos Assembly Speaker Mudashiru Obasa. He said he initially defended Elliot before contacting the lawmaker.
Gbajabiamila said he later asked Elliot to withdraw from the dispute and issue a public statement denying involvement. According to him, Elliot did not issue the statement as requested, leaving the matter unresolved and creating further tension within the political structure.
The Assembly crisis began in January 2025 when 32 of the 40 Lagos lawmakers removed Obasa while he was outside the country. The move triggered a major political dispute before Tinubu intervened and Obasa eventually returned to the speakership after more than 40 days.
Elliot has previously denied that he had a serious personal disagreement with Gbajabiamila. During an earlier constituency engagement, he described his political mentor as a compassionate leader and again apologised if he had made any mistake.
“I don’t have any issue with him,” Elliot said. “If I have erred in any way, my leader, I am sorry.”
The latest reunion is particularly significant because Elliot is preparing for another political contest in Surulere. He obtained the APC nomination form in May to seek a return to the Lagos State House of Assembly, saying his return would make him a ranking member and help attract more benefits to his constituency.
For APC members in Surulere, the reconciliation could help reduce the effect of the earlier disagreement and allow the party structure to focus on the next election. Internal unity remains important as candidates seek party support, particularly in constituencies where political relationships can influence nominations and grassroots mobilisation.
Newstridez also reviewed earlier reports surrounding the dispute and found that Elliot’s relationship with Gbajabiamila has remained politically significant despite the tensions. Elliot has continued to publicly acknowledge the older politician’s influence while insisting that his own political activities remain focused on Surulere.
The episode also shows how personal relationships can shape political structures in Lagos. Gbajabiamila, a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, has maintained a strong political base in Surulere, while Elliot entered elective politics with his backing and later became one of the prominent lawmakers in the Lagos Assembly.
The political stakes are now higher as the APC prepares for the 2027 election cycle. Lagos remains a key stronghold of the ruling party, and party leaders are expected to prioritise internal reconciliation where disagreements could weaken mobilisation ahead of the polls.
However, the exact circumstances surrounding the latest reunion and the private conversation between Elliot and Gbajabiamila could not be independently established by Newstridez beyond the videos and social-media reports reviewed. The footage shows the reported apology, but it does not by itself establish the full details of what was discussed between both politicians.
As at the time of filing this report, Elliot had already publicly apologised to Gbajabiamila over their past political tensions, while fresh footage circulating online showed another emotional reconciliation between the two APC figures. The development has renewed attention on their political relationship ahead of the 2027 elections.
The next test will be whether the reconciliation translates into stronger cooperation within the Surulere APC structure as political activities gather pace. With Elliot seeking another term in the Lagos Assembly, his relationship with party leaders such as Gbajabiamila could remain an important part of the political contest in the constituency.
