Nollywood actor and former Lagos State House of Assembly member, Desmond Elliot, has sparked reactions on social media after he was seen kneeling before former House of Representatives Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, during an apparent reconciliation meeting within the Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Elliot reportedly apologised to Gbajabiamila, saying, “I’m deeply sorry, sir,” before reaffirming his loyalty to the APC leadership.
Gbajabiamila subsequently embraced the former lawmaker in a gesture that appeared to signal a reconciliation between the two politicians.
Key Highlights
- Desmond Elliot kneels before Femi Gbajabiamila during an apparent reconciliation meeting.
- Elliot reportedly apologises and reaffirms his loyalty to the Lagos APC leadership.
- The development triggers mixed reactions on X over political godfatherism and party structures.
- The incident follows the controversial APC primary in Surulere Constituency I.
- Barakat Odunuga-Bakare reportedly defeated Elliot in the primary.
Desmond Elliot, Gbajabiamila Reconciliation
The development has generated mixed reactions on X, with some users describing Elliot’s gesture as an act of humility and respect, while others interpreted it as evidence of the influence wielded by powerful political figures in Nigeria.
Reacting to the incident, X user @DavideErazz claimed that Elliot had been politically humbled after losing support ahead of the previous election.
“Desmond Elliot has been humbled by the last election in which he lost because Gbaja Femi withdrew his support from him,” the user wrote.
The same user recounted witnessing a similar incident involving another politician who allegedly knelt while pleading for political assistance.
Another X user, @iceking_jos, linked Elliot’s action to the broader debate over political structures and godfatherism.
“When you hear them talk about structure, this is it. They beg their way into power,” the user wrote.
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Cultural Interpretation
Some commenters offered a cultural interpretation of Elliot’s gesture.
X user @De234Genius described the incident as “JUST YORUBAING”, arguing that the gesture was culturally rooted.
Others, however, dismissed the idea that such political relationships were peculiar to Nigeria.
@kunlead jahi argued that political manoeuvring and the influence of powerful political figures exist in several countries, including the United Kingdom, United States and China.
Meanwhile, @XtinXtin2all questioned the impact of political godfatherism on politicians and governance.
For @doncapsid, the incident resembled a scene from a movie, while @sonofgodhere criticised Elliot’s political conduct and questioned his motivations.
Another user, @Ucheharpers1, mocked what they described as a contrast between Elliot’s political conduct and his public advocacy.
@ikocha23586, however, acknowledged Elliot’s success as an actor while arguing that his political career had become associated with dependence on powerful political figures.
APC Primary Crisis
The reactions followed the controversy surrounding the APC primary election in Surulere Constituency I, where Elliot reportedly withdrew from the May primary, raised allegations of intimidation, rejected the process and pursued an internal appeal.
The contest was eventually won by Barakat Odunuga-Bakare, who reportedly polled 11,385 votes, while Elliot scored 270 votes.
Elliot’s latest public reconciliation with Gbajabiamila has therefore renewed debate over the role of political godfathers, party structures and traditional gestures of respect in Lagos politics.
While some commentators viewed the kneeling as a culturally rooted act of humility and reconciliation, others interpreted it as a reflection of the power dynamics that often shape political relationships in Lagos and Nigeria. Updates on the party’s activities are available on the APC’s official page.
The incident has consequently generated fresh discussion about political loyalty, party structures and the influence of senior political figures within the APC. For more updates, follow us on X.
