We Thought Obasa’s Impeachment Had Tinubu’s Backing – Desmond Elliot

A lawmaker representing Surulere Constituency I, Desmond Elliot, has revealed the circumstances that led to his involvement in the impeachment of the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa in January 2025.

According to the legislator, lawmakers believed the move had the backing of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Elliot spoke on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily while reacting to comments credited to the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila.

Gbajabiamila had reportedly claimed that Elliot nearly lost his political position over intelligence reports linking him to the impeachment plot against Obasa.

Reacting to the allegation on Tuesday, Elliot said he was outside Nigeria when the impeachment took place and only returned after learning about the development.

The actor-turned-politician disclosed that he was in South Africa when news of Obasa’s removal broke, describing the situation as surprising.

“I would like to state categorically that I wasn’t in the country. My wife and I travelled during the period of January 13th of 2025.

“We were in recess, and then it was an opportunity for us to travel to attend my wife’s younger sister’s wedding.

“That was the time, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa was impeached by the Lagos State House of Assembly.

“It came to me as a shock because I was in South Africa then. So, obviously, it took me about two days to come back. I was also as confused as everybody was,” he said.

Elliot explained that after observing that many lawmakers had already endorsed the impeachment process, he appended his signature because there was a widespread belief that the presidency approved the action.

“And then I saw that almost everybody had signed. And pretty much, we thought it was from the presidency. In all fairness, we thought it was from the presidency.

“And, of course, I appended my own signature. I believe I was maybe a 30-something person at that point in time because others who had travelled had returned, and others who signed,” he added.

According to Elliot, President Bola Tinubu later clarified that the impeachment did not originate from him and instructed lawmakers to reverse the decision.

“But eventually, Mr President called us and made us understand that it was not from him and asked us to return the speaker.

“And we did,” he said.

Reacting further to Gbajabiamila’s remarks, Elliot said he was surprised by the comments considering their longstanding political relationship.

“So, my leader coming to say this, that I almost lost his job, one I have served and has also been there for me for this long, to have said that came to me as a shock,” he stated.

The political crisis in the Lagos Assembly began on January 13, 2025, when lawmakers impeached Obasa while he was reportedly away in the United States.

The lawmakers accused him of gross misconduct, abuse of office, financial mismanagement and poor leadership. His deputy, Mojisola Meranda, was immediately elected Speaker, becoming the first woman to occupy the position in the state.

However, Obasa rejected the impeachment, insisting that due process was not followed. The dispute later escalated into a prolonged leadership crisis before interventions from APC leaders and President Tinubu eventually paved the way for his reinstatement as Speaker.