Desmond Elliot, the lawmaker representing Surulere Constituency I in the Lagos State House of Assembly, has explained why he signed the impeachment notice against Speaker Mudashiru Obasa during the leadership crisis that rocked the Assembly in January 2025.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Tuesday, the actor-turned-politician said he was outside Nigeria when the impeachment occurred and believed the move had the backing of the presidency.
Elliot made the clarification while reacting to claims by Femi Gbajabiamila, who reportedly alleged that intelligence reports linked him to the impeachment plot and almost cost him his position.
According to Elliot, he and his wife travelled out of the country on January 13, 2025, during the Assembly’s recess to attend the wedding ceremony of his wife’s younger sister.
He said he was in South Africa when news broke that Obasa had been impeached by members of the Lagos State House of Assembly, adding that the development initially came as a shock to him.
Elliot disclosed that it took him about two days to return to Nigeria, noting that he was as confused as many others over the unfolding political situation.
He explained that upon his return, he discovered that most lawmakers had already signed the impeachment notice and that many of them believed the action had presidential approval.
According to him, based on that understanding, he also appended his signature to the document, adding that he was among the later lawmakers to sign after others who had travelled returned to the country.
The lawmaker further revealed that President Bola Tinubu later met with members of the Assembly and clarified that the impeachment move did not originate from him.
He said the President subsequently directed lawmakers to reinstate Obasa as Speaker, a directive they complied with.
Reacting to Gbajabiamila’s accusation, Elliot expressed surprise over the comments, considering what he described as their longstanding political relationship and loyalty.
He stated that he had always supported Gbajabiamila politically and found it shocking that the Chief of Staff would publicly suggest he almost caused him to lose his job.
The crisis in the Lagos Assembly began on January 13, 2025, when the majority of lawmakers voted to remove Obasa as Speaker while he was reportedly away in the United States.
The lawmakers accused him of gross misconduct, abuse of office, poor leadership style, persistent lateness to plenary sessions and alleged mismanagement of Assembly funds, allegations Obasa consistently denied.
Following his removal, Deputy Speaker Mojisola Meranda was elected Speaker.
However, after weeks of political tension, legal battles and interventions by leaders of the All Progressives Congress and President Tinubu, Meranda stepped down and returned to her former role as deputy speaker, paving the way for Obasa’s reinstatement as Speaker of the Assembly.
