Desmond Elliot Apologises to Gbajabiamila Over APC Primary

Lagos State House of Assembly member Desmond Elliot has apologised to Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, over his actions during the last APC primary election in Lagos.

A video circulating on social media shows Elliot on his knees as he asks Gbajabiamila for forgiveness and seeks to return to the ruling party’s political structure 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 follows a disagreement between Elliot and the APC leadership after the party’s primary for the Surulere Constituency I seat in May.

Elliot had pulled out of the exercise, claiming that his supporters faced intimidation and political pressure. He later rejected the primary result and said he would use the party’s appeal process to challenge the outcome.

However, Elliot eventually lost the APC ticket to Barakat Odunuga-Bakare, who was believed to have the backing of Gbajabiamila.

Odunuga-Bakare secured 11,385 votes to win the primary, while Elliot received just 270 votes.

The development now marks an apparent attempt by Elliot to mend relations with the party leadership and seek reintegration within the APC political structure in Lagos.

The disagreement had followed a closely watched contest for the Surulere Constituency I ticket, with the primary outcome determining the party’s candidate for the seat.

Elliot’s decision to apologise publicly comes after his earlier objections to the process and his stated intention to challenge the result through the party’s internal appeal mechanism.

Will Elliot’s apology help restore his relationship with the APC leadership in Lagos?