Lagos State House of Assembly member, Desmond Elliot, has explained his role in the impeachment process against Speaker Mudashiru Obasa in January 2025, stating why he appended his signature to the impeachment document.
Elliot, who represents Surulere Constituency I, made the clarification during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Tuesday, following remarks by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, that he almost lost his job over intelligence linking him to the impeachment move.
The lawmaker said he was outside the country when the incident occurred and initially believed the process had the backing of the presidency.
“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,” he said.
Elliot added that the impeachment happened while he was in South Africa and came as a surprise to him.
“That was the time Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa was impeached (by 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.
“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 30-something person at that point in time because others who had travelled had returned and others who signed,” he said.
Elliot said lawmakers later received clarification from President Bola Tinubu that the impeachment was not authorised.
“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 added.
Reacting to Gbajabiamila’s comment, Elliot said the allegation was surprising given their long-standing relationship.
“So, my leader (Gbajabiamila) 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 said.
The Obasa impeachment crisis began on January 13, 2025, when a majority of the Lagos Assembly removed him while he was away in the United States.
Lawmakers accused him of misconduct, abuse of office, high-handedness, poor leadership, lateness to sessions, and alleged financial mismanagement.
His deputy, Mojisola Meranda, was subsequently sworn in as Speaker, becoming the first woman to hold the position.
Obasa rejected the move, describing it as unconstitutional and insisting due process was not followed.
The situation led to political tension, court cases, rival leadership claims, and intervention by APC leaders and President Tinubu.
The crisis was later resolved after Meranda resigned, paving the way for Obasa’s reinstatement.