[VIDEO] How Tinubu almost sacked me as CoS over Desmond Elliot’s role in Obasa impeachment saga – Gbajabiamila

The chief of staff to President Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, has revealed that the involvement of Desmond Elliot in the impeachment of former Lagos assembly speaker Mudashiru Obasa nearly cost him his position in the presidency.

Obasa was removed as speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly in January 2025 after lawmakers accused him of gross misconduct and abuse of office. While he was out of the country, Mojisola Meranda, then deputy speaker, emerged as the first female speaker of the assembly.

On returning to Nigeria, Obasa rejected the impeachment and headed to court to challenge the move. After spending 49 days in office, Meranda resigned, paving the way for Obasa’s return following reported intervention by President Tinubu. The court later nullified the assembly’s proceedings that led to Obasa’s removal.

Speaking on Thursday during an APC stakeholders’ meeting in Lagos, Gbajabiamila said Elliot’s alleged role in the impeachment plot almost put his own job at risk.

“I almost lost my job as chief of staff last year because of Desmond Elliot. He’s alive today; you can go and verify with him,” he said.

Gbajabiamila, who represents Surulere constituency interests politically, said Tinubu summoned him to Abuja during the crisis and mentioned Elliot among those allegedly behind the plot against Obasa. He said he initially defended the lawmaker before later reaching out to him.

According to Gbajabiamila, he advised Elliot to distance himself from the impeachment move if he was involved. However, a few days later, the director-general of the DSS reportedly informed him of allegations linking him to support for Elliot’s actions.

“Of course, the president will not believe that Desmond will do such a thing, and I don’t know about it,” Gbajabiamila said.

The former speaker of the house of representatives added that he again urged Elliot to publicly dissociate himself from the crisis, but the actor-turned-lawmaker allegedly refused.

“If it were not that I had the kind of relationship I had with the president, I wouldn’t be here today,” he said.

Gbajabiamila also accused Elliot of fuelling religious division in Surulere constituency by creating tension between Muslims and Christians.

His comments come days after APC stakeholders in Surulere accused Gbajabiamila of trying to impose a preferred female aspirant for the Lagos State House of Assembly seat.

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