Lagos State House of Assembly member, Desmond Elliot, has explained his role in the controversial impeachment of Speaker Mudashiru Obasa in January 2025, saying he signed the notice based on the belief that the exercise had presidential backing.

Elliot, who represents Surulere Constituency I, clarified during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Tuesday, while responding to comments by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, who said he almost lost his job over intelligence linking him to the impeachment attempt.

The lawmaker said he was outside the country at the time of the incident and only learnt about the development while abroad.

“I would like to state categorically that I wasn’t in the country. My wife and I travelled from January 13th of 2025,” he said.

Elliot explained that he was in South Africa attending a family event when the impeachment took place.

“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,” he said.

He added that he later observed that many lawmakers had already signed the impeachment notice before his return.
 

“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,” he said.

Elliot stated that confusion surrounded the process at the time, adding that lawmakers believed the move had federal approval.

He further said the lawmakers were later informed by 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 remarks, Elliot expressed surprise, saying the comments were unexpected given their long-standing political relationship.

“So, my leader coming to say this… came to me as a shock,” he said.

The Obasa impeachment saga began on January 13, 2025, when a majority of lawmakers in the Lagos State House of Assembly removed him over allegations including misconduct, abuse of office and financial mismanagement.

Deputy Speaker Mojisola Meranda was briefly elected Speaker before Obasa was later reinstated following political intervention and reconciliation within the APC.