Lawmaker representing Surulere Constituency I in the Lagos State House of Assembly, Desmond Elliot, has explained why he appended his signature to the impeachment notice against Speaker Mudashiru Obasa during the leadership crisis that rocked the Assembly in January 2025.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Tuesday, Elliot said he was outside Nigeria when the impeachment occurred and believed the move had the backing of President Bola Tinubu.
The actor-turned-politician made the clarification while responding to comments by the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, who recently alleged that Elliot nearly caused him political trouble because of intelligence reports linking him to the impeachment plot.
According to Elliot, he and his wife travelled out of the country during the Assembly recess to attend a family wedding in South Africa.
He explained that news of Obasa’s removal reached him while abroad and came as a surprise.
Elliot said by the time he returned, many lawmakers had already endorsed the impeachment notice, adding that members believed the action originated from the Presidency. We thought it was from the presidency. In all fairness, we thought it was from the presidency, he said.
The lawmaker disclosed that he eventually signed the document after observing that several of his colleagues had already done so.
He, however, said President Tinubu later intervened and informed lawmakers that he did not authorise the impeachment.
According to Elliot, the President subsequently directed members of the Assembly to restore Obasa as Speaker.
Elliot expressed disappointment over Gbajabiamila’s accusation, noting that both men had maintained a long-standing political relationship.
The crisis in the Lagos Assembly began on January 13, 2025, when lawmakers impeached Obasa while he was reportedly on vacation in the United States.
Members accused the Speaker of misconduct, abuse of office, financial mismanagement, poor leadership style, and persistent lateness to plenary sessions.
Following the impeachment, Deputy Speaker Mojisola Meranda was elected Speaker, becoming the first woman to lead the Assembly.
Obasa rejected the process, insisting due process was not followed. The dispute later escalated into a prolonged political battle involving court actions, rival leadership claims, and interventions from leaders of the All Progressives Congress.
The crisis was eventually resolved after Meranda stepped down, paving the way for Obasa’s reinstatement as Speaker.
