“I’m Deeply Sorry, I Have No Excuse” — Desmond Elliot Kneels Before Gbajabiamila After APC Primary Fallout

Lagos State House of Assembly member, Desmond Elliot, has apologised to the Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, following the political fallout that trailed the All Progressives Congress primary election for the Surulere Constituency I seat.

In a video circulating on social media, Elliot was seen kneeling before Gbajabiamila and asking for forgiveness while appealing for reconciliation with the APC leadership in Lagos.

“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,” Elliot said.

The apology followed months of disagreement arising from the APC primary conducted in May to select the party’s candidate for Surulere Constituency I.

Elliot had withdrawn from the exercise after alleging that his supporters were subjected to intimidation and political pressure during the process.

He subsequently rejected the outcome of the primary and indicated that he would challenge the exercise through the party’s internal appeal mechanism.

The lawmaker eventually lost the APC ticket to Barakat Odunuga-Bakare, who polled 11,385 votes, while Elliot secured 270 votes.

Odunuga-Bakare was widely reported to have enjoyed the backing of Gbajabiamila, a former Speaker of the House of Representatives who represented Surulere Federal Constituency for several years before his appointment as President Tinubu’s Chief of Staff.

The viral video now suggests an attempt by Elliot to mend relations with Gbajabiamila and the Lagos APC leadership following the bitter primary contest.

Elliot, a former Nollywood actor who later moved into politics, has represented Surulere Constituency I in the Lagos State House of Assembly.