Lagos State House of Assembly member representing Surulere Constituency I, Desmond Elliot, has explained his role in the controversial 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, the actor-turned-lawmaker said he was not in the country when the impeachment process began, adding that he only got involved after believing it had the approval of the presidency.
His clarification comes amid comments from the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, who allegedly suggested that intelligence reports linked Elliot to the impeachment attempt, a situation he said almost cost him his position.
Elliot insisted he was abroad at the time of the incident, noting that he and his wife had travelled for a family event.
“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,” he said.
He explained that they were on recess and had travelled to South Africa to attend his wife’s sister’s wedding when news of Obasa’s impeachment broke.
According to him, the development came as a shock, as many lawmakers had already signed the notice before he became aware of it.
“That was the time Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa was impeached. 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 added that at the time, many lawmakers believed the process had backing from the presidency, which influenced his decision to sign.
“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,” he added.
He, however, disclosed that President Bola Tinubu later clarified that he did not authorise the impeachment and directed lawmakers to reinstate the Speaker.
“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 to Gbajabiamila’s alleged remarks, Elliot expressed surprise, describing the comment as unexpected given their long-standing 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 said.
The Lagos Assembly had earlier voted to remove Obasa over allegations of misconduct, abuse of office, poor leadership style and mismanagement of funds, claims he denied.
His deputy, Mojisola Meranda, was initially installed as Speaker before political interventions led to Obasa’s reinstatement.
