Nollywood actor and politician, Desmond Elliot, has come under criticism after a video showing him kneeling before Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, and pleading for forgiveness went viral.
The scene, which emerged on social media yesterday, showed Elliot apologising to Gbajabiamila over his conduct during the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election for Surulere Constituency I, reports Daily Trust.
“I’m sorry, I have no excuse. I have nothing other than to say I’m deeply sorry. I’m deeply sorry, sir,” Elliot said, before adding, “Don’t be angry, Daddy.”
Gbajabiamila, who is seen listening to him, asked him to get up, saying, “There is no… please, get up.”
The gesture, however, triggered a wave of reactions on X, with several Nigerians questioning why a serving lawmaker would publicly kneel before a senior politician in a bid to mend a political relationship.
One user, @Mrczar_, reacted to the video by writing: “Whatever they are running in that Lagos is nasty mehn. Someone’s father.”
Another user, @Ijendu2, questioned the manner of the apology, saying: “You go Dey bow for your fellow man. You for just Dey your lane with your head high.”
@MoiAuthentic took a different angle, asking: “Can’t you pick your career back and move on? Well, politics is juicier than any career.”
For @skood009, the episode was evidence of the pursuit of political power rather than public service.
“If truly serving Nigerians were the goal and not personal enrichment, people would never kill, beg or manipulate their way back into power,” the user wrote.
He added that the episode marked the end of Elliot’s political journey.
Another user, @curtisblowz, interpreted the incident as evidence of the strength of the APC structure in Lagos, writing, “APC na cartel!”.
He further argued that politicians who fall out with the structure could eventually be forced to seek reconciliation.
Other reactions were harsher. @OsagieOche wrote, “I want to throw up,” while @ObaDeyemi12 described the incident as “nonsense” and argued that people should have something going for themselves rather than depend on others for survival.
The backlash followed a bruising political episode between Elliot and the APC leadership over the party’s primary for the Surulere Constituency I seat.
Elliot, who was seeking a record fifth term in the Lagos Assembly, withdrew from the May primary.
He alleged intimidation and political pressure against his supporters.
He subsequently rejected the outcome and said he would challenge the process through the party’s internal appeal mechanism.
Barakat Odunuga-Bakare eventually won the contest with 11,385 votes, while Elliot polled 270 votes.
Odunuga-Bakare was subsequently recognised as the APC candidate for the constituency.
The primary dispute had followed an earlier crisis involving the Lagos Assembly leadership and former Speaker Mudashiru Obasa
Gbajabiamila publicly discussed Elliot’s alleged role in the episode.
In May, Gbajabiamila said Elliot’s alleged involvement in the Assembly crisis had nearly cost him his position as Tinubu’s Chief of Staff.
The former House of Representatives Speaker said the situation had become serious enough to threaten his relationship with the president.
Elliot, however, had denied masterminding Obasa’s removal and maintained that Gbajabiamila had never asked him to withdraw from the Surulere contest.
On May 19, shortly before the APC primary, Elliot said he had visited Gbajabiamila after obtaining his nomination form and insisted that his political mentor had not directed him to step aside for any aspirant.
He later withdrew from the primary amid allegations of intimidation, while Gbajabiamila openly backed Odunuga-Bakare, Elliot’s challenger.
The latest apology is not the first time Elliot has sought to repair the relationship.
In May, he had publicly apologised to Gbajabiamila during a television appearance, describing him as his political mentor and “daddy”.
He said he was sorry if he had offended him.
After the latest meeting, Elliot again reaffirmed his loyalty to Gbajabiamila.
He described him as his “political father, mentor, and leader” and said no political ambition or temporary disagreement was worth destroying their longstanding relationship.
“I remain committed to the ideals of loyalty, service, and respect for party leadership,” Elliot said in a statement following the encounter.
The latest development has consequently been viewed by supporters and critics alike as an attempt by the lawmaker to rebuild his relationship with Gbajabiamila and regain his footing within the Lagos APC structure after losing the party’s ticket.
While the online reaction has largely focused on the symbolism of Elliot kneeling before his political mentor, the encounter also underscores the political stakes surrounding the Surulere contest and the continuing influence of Gbajabiamila in the Lagos APC structure.
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