The former lawmaker trades politics for costumes and cowries as fans cheer his return to filmmaking
Just months after his political dreams hit a dead end, Desmond Elliot appears to be writing a new chapter—and this time, it’s on a movie set, not in the House of Assembly.
The actor-turned-politician was recently spotted on location for an upcoming film, and the internet has been buzzing ever since. In a now-viral video, Elliot is seen in full character gear—cornrowed hair decorated with cowries, and a costume boldly inscribed with the words “Lere boy.” He looked every bit the traditional figure fans remember from his Nollywood heyday.
The footage was filmed at the film village of acclaimed producer and director Ibrahim Chatta, and it didn’t take long for speculation to run wild. Is Elliot making a full return to acting? Is this a one-off cameo or a major project? And what exactly is he playing?
Chatta himself added fuel to the fire, teasing something big in the video. “We are here at Ibrahim Chatta village, and Honourable is here,” he said, turning the camera toward Elliot. “This is the first AI film. We are doing something new—you don’t know what is coming.”
For many fans, the sight of Elliot back in costume feels like a homecoming. Before he stepped into politics, he was one of Nollywood’s most recognizable faces, starring in dozens of movies that made him a beloved figure across West Africa. In 2015, he traded scripts for speeches, winning a seat to represent Surulere Constituency I in the Lagos State House of Assembly. He held that position for years, but when he recently vied for the All Progressives Congress (APC) ticket in the party’s primaries, he came up short.
Now, with that door closed, it seems Elliot is opening another—one that leads straight back to the lights, cameras, and action that first made him a star.
Fans are already celebrating the possibility, flooding social media with excitement. Many are hopeful this isn’t just a brief visit, but a genuine return to the craft he once loved. And if Chatta’s hints about innovation and AI are anything to go by, Elliot’s comeback might not just be nostalgic—it could be groundbreaking.
For a man who spent years serving the public in government, stepping back into character might feel like coming full circle. And for Nigerians who grew up watching him on screen, it’s a return they’ve been waiting for.