‘I’m sorry’, Desmond Elliot kneels for Gbajabiamila after fallout

Lagos State House of Assembly member Desmond Elliot has issued an apology to Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, following a disagreement that occurred during the most recent All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election in Lagos. A video posted on social media depicts Elliot kneeling before Gbajabiamila, seeking forgiveness and expressing his wish to rejoin the APC in Lagos.

In the video, Elliot admitted his wrongdoing and expressed regret, stating, "I’m sorry, I have no excuse, I have nothing other than to say I’m deeply sorry and I am hoping to be cultured in the future." This apology comes months after the dispute between Elliot and members of the APC leadership regarding the primary election for Surulere Constituency I. Elliot had entered the primary but later withdrew due to what he perceived as intimidation and political pressure against his supporters.

He subsequently rejected the election results and pledged to contest through the party's internal appeal process. The APC primary was ultimately won by Barakat Odunuga-Bakare, who secured 11,385 votes compared to Elliot's 270 votes. Odunuga-Bakare was subsequently elected as the party's candidate for the Surulere Constituency I seat.

The latest incident suggests that Elliot is attempting to reconcile with Gbajabiamila and rebuild his relationship with the APC leadership in Lagos. Elliot has been a representative of Surulere Constituency I in the Lagos State House of Assembly and previously served as a member of the APC's Lagos State chapter.