“From Nollywood to the State House”: Desmond Elliot Shares the Journey Behind the Scenes
Desmond Elliot never imagined that acting would lead him to politics—but looking back, it seems every step brought him closer to it.
In a conversation with media host Chude Jideonwo, the actor-turned-legislator opened up about how his path shifted from scripts and cameras to debates and policies. And it all started with a chance introduction.
According to Elliot, it was former Edo State governor Adams Oshiomhole who first brought him into political circles—linking him up with now-President Bola Tinubu. What began as a casual meeting quickly grew into something much bigger.
“One day, Comrade Adams said, ‘Asiwaju will be in Benin, come around,’” Elliot recalled. “I went, and he took me straight to meet him. He introduced me as his son. Tinubu looked at me and smiled, and that was the beginning.”
From that point, Elliot says he stayed in touch through Tinubu’s aide, Sunday Dare. But what struck him most wasn’t the politics—it was Tinubu’s openness and unexpected interest in him.
“I think he was surprised that someone like me—young, working in film—was even interested in this space,” Elliot shared. “But I was serious about it. I kept coming back.”
One particular memory stands out. During a campaign season years ago, Elliot and a group of colleagues, including Jide Kosoko, Mike Ezuruonye, and Chinedu ‘Aki’ Ikedieze, visited Tinubu at home.
“We got there around 7 p.m., left after midnight,” he said, laughing. “It was like talking to a father in the living room. He was sharing stories, breaking down decisions he made while in office. We just sat there listening, learning.”
But the roots of Elliot’s political passion go even deeper. Long before he ran for office, he was already inspired by late philanthropist and businessman MKO Abiola.
“In the ’90s, I used to read about him a lot,” Elliot said. “There was something about his story that pulled me in. I didn’t know what it meant back then, but I felt drawn to leadership.”
Even while working full-time in Nollywood, Elliot said he kept his political interest alive—often spending his evenings in conversation with APC leader Fouad Oki, who helped shape his understanding of governance.
The 2023 Race and the Pushback
When the 2023 elections rolled around, Elliot found himself running against fellow actor Olumide Oworu, who was backed by a rising wave of youth voters.
“I wasn’t upset with Olumide,” he clarified. “He’s bright and from Surulere too. But what stung was seeing industry colleagues support him publicly without ever speaking to me.”
For Elliot, re-election wasn’t just about politics—it was about building on work already done. He referenced former Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila as someone who made a bigger impact the longer he served.
“Good governance takes time,” he said. “You need experience, consistency. One term doesn’t fix everything.”
Facing Public Perception
In early 2024, a clip of Elliot responding to speculation about his sexuality went viral online. Some viewers twisted his words, leading to headlines he hadn’t expected.
“It caught me off guard,” he admitted. “I simply said, ‘For the record, I’m straight.’ But even that got spun in strange ways. My pastor called later and said, ‘You didn’t even need to answer.’”
Elliot didn’t shy away from addressing the pressure that comes with public life—especially in the age of social media.
“You have to stay true to yourself,” he said. “If you start living for other people’s approval, you’ll lose your peace. You’ll stumble, yes, but you have to keep moving.”
