Lagos State lawmaker and actor-turned-politician, Desmond Elliot, has publicly apologised to the Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, in what appears to be a fresh effort to mend strained relations within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State.

The apology emerged in a video that has gained traction on social media, showing Elliot kneeling before Gbajabiamila while expressing remorse over his conduct during the political tensions that followed the party’s primary election earlier this year.

In the footage, the Surulere Constituency I representative admitted wrongdoing and appealed for forgiveness, saying he regretted his actions and hoped to learn from the experience.

“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 while addressing the former Speaker of the House of Representatives.

The dramatic reconciliation move comes months after a bitter fallout between the lawmaker and influential figures within the Lagos APC following the party’s primary election for the Surulere Constituency I seat.

The contest, held in May, was marred by controversy after Elliot withdrew from the process, alleging that his supporters were subjected to intimidation and political pressure during the exercise.

At the time, the lawmaker rejected the outcome of the primary and insisted that the process did not reflect a fair contest. He subsequently announced plans to challenge the result through the APC’s internal appeal channels.

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The dispute deepened political divisions within the constituency and fuelled speculation about Elliot’s future within the ruling party’s structure in Lagos.

However, the primary election eventually produced Barakat Odunuga-Bakare as the APC candidate. Widely regarded as enjoying the support of Gbajabiamila, Odunuga-Bakare secured a landslide victory in the contest.

Official results showed that she polled 11,385 votes, while Elliot managed only 270 votes, a result that effectively ended his bid to retain the party’s ticket.

The latest apology is being viewed by political observers as an attempt by the three-term lawmaker to rebuild bridges with key figures in the APC and reaffirm his place within the party ahead of future political engagements.

While neither Gbajabiamila nor the Lagos APC leadership has publicly commented on the apology, the development has sparked conversations among party members and political watchers about reconciliation, loyalty and the dynamics of power within the ruling party in Lagos State.

The gesture also highlights the continuing influence of party leaders in shaping political fortunes within the APC, where internal disputes are often resolved through negotiations and reconciliation efforts behind the scenes.