Desmond Elliot Dismisses Fallout With Gbajabiamila, Pledges Continued Loyalty

  A lawmaker in the Lagos State House of Assembly, Desmond Elliot, has dismissed rumours suggesting a rift between him and the Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila. Speaking during an interview with BBC Pidgin on Tuesday, Elliot insisted that he remains loyal to President Tinubu and Gbajabiamila despite reports of political disagreements. The lawmaker representing Surulere Constituency in the Lagos assembly said democracy should not be run like a military regime where subordinates openly challenge authority. “We are in a democracy and not a military regime. The names of President Tinubu and Gbajabiamila are too big for me,” he stated. The lawmaker explained that he still regards Gbajabiamila as his political leader and father figure, stressing that temporary misunderstandings should not be exaggerated. “I don’t only have a relationship with Gbajiabiamila. He is my boss. I’m loyal to him, and he loves me like a son. In life, even between father and son, there can be small issues once in a while, and people settle it,” he stated. Elliot added that he was not expecting anyone to intervene in any perceived disagreement between him and the former Speaker of the House of Representatives. “I’m not waiting for anybody to settle anything. A child can apologise to the father, and the father will calm down when he is ready. But it is not the child that will tell the father when to calm down,” he said. Elliot further stressed that despite the political tension, he would never abandon Gbajabiamila. “God forbid that I will leave my father. The president can call me and say, ‘Boy, that is not you,’” he added. Reacting to questions linking him to the crisis involving the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly and the presidency, Elliot declined to comment extensively on the issue. “That one is beyond my power. I don’t think I should answer questions like that. Let me focus on what concerns me,” he said. According to him, his immediate focus remains on delivering support for the All Progressives Congress at the grassroots and ensuring Tinubu’sA lawmaker in the Lagos State House of Assembly, Desmond Elliot, has denied rumours suggesting a rift between him and the Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila. re-election in 2027. “What concerns me now is how to make the people of Surulere happy so they will continue to support my party. When they support my party, we will bring my president back for a second term so he can leave a legacy,” he said. The lawmaker also admitted that the political situation had drawn him closer to God. “The good thing about all this is that it has brought me closer to God. You cannot do this work without God,” he stated. Speaking on his next political move after the primaries, Elliot reaffirmed his commitment to the APC and Tinubu’s second-term ambition. “I’m still a party member. I will follow my party. My prayer is that President Bola Tinubu returns as president. I want him to leave a legacy that will amaze people,” he said.

Desmond Elliot Breaks Silence, Apologises To Gbajabiamila Over Political Rift

  Lagos lawmaker and Nollywood actor, Desmond Elliot, has tendered a public apology to his political mentor and Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, admitting that he may have caused offence during his political engagements. Elliot made the apology during an appearance on TVC’s Your View on Friday, where he said any misunderstanding was unintentional and insisted he remained committed to party unity and development in his constituency. His apology comes amid previous political tensions linked to the Lagos State House of Assembly leadership crisis, during which Gbajabiamila had revealed that he nearly lost his position at the Presidency due to allegations tied to Elliot’s political activities. Gbajabiamila had said President Bola Tinubu confronted him over intelligence reports suggesting Elliot’s involvement in moves around the Assembly speakership tussle, a claim he denied at the time. Speaking on the programme, Elliot said he grew into politics under the guidance of a senior colleague he described as his “egbon”, adding that emotions and misunderstandings may have contributed to past friction. “I’m not saying, oh, yes, media will come out, oh yes, Desmond begs again. Yes, because he’s my egbon. And I grew up learning everything I knew in politics through him,” he said. He added that human error could not be ruled out in political relationships. “To err is human, to forgive is divine. So I’m sorry, my daddy, if I’ve offended you in any way,” he said. Elliot also extended his apology to who he described as the “matriarch of Surulere”, saying he regretted any offence caused. “To the matriarch of Surulere, mama, I’m sorry if I’ve offended you,” he said. Despite the apology, he maintained that he remains focused on strengthening the party and delivering on his mandate. “But I will keep keeping the party strong. And to all Surulerians, my scorecard is there. You know the things I’ve done to make Surulere a better place,” he added. The Lagos Assembly crisis, which involved leadership tensions within the All Progressives Congress, had triggered internal disputes before it was eventually resolved through high-level interventions.

Rival Groups Clash Over Desmond’ Elliot’s Fourth-Term Bid

  A coalition of stakeholders in Surulere has rejected the bid by Desmond Elliot to seek a fourth term as the lawmaker representing Surulere Constituency I in the Lagos State House of Assembly. The group, under the aegis of the Surulere Accountability Forum, made its position known in a statement issued on Wednesday in Lagos by its spokesman, Olanrewaju Badmus. Badmus said the decision followed a broad assessment of Elliot’s performance over three terms, which, according to the coalition, fell short of expectations. According to him, community leaders, youth groups, small business representatives, and civil society organisations participated in the review and collectively agreed that the constituency required a new direction. He added that after three terms in office, constituents expected clearer evidence of development and policy innovation, noting that the area continues to grapple with infrastructure decay, youth unemployment, and inadequate primary healthcare. The coalition maintained that its stance was not driven by personal bias but by a commitment to accountability and democratic principles. It stressed the need for leadership that reflects the evolving aspirations of the people and prioritises tangible outcomes. Badmus also called on residents and party stakeholders to support candidates with fresh ideas and renewed energy capable of advancing the constituency. “As stakeholders, we remain committed to promoting inclusive participation and ensuring that leadership remains responsive to the needs of the people,” he said. The development comes as political activities begin to gather momentum ahead of the primaries of the All Progressives Congress for the 2027 general elections. However, the opposition to Elliot’s fourth-term ambition is not without contrast. Earlier, a separate group of party members and residents reportedly staged a rally in support of the lawmaker, urging party leaders to adopt him as a consensus candidate, citing what they described as his impactful representation. The emerging divide among stakeholders signals a potentially competitive race for the Surulere Constituency I seat as the election cycle approaches.