A member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Desmond Elliot, has revealed that he signed the impeachment document against Speaker Mudashiru Obasa because he believed the move had the backing of the Presidency.
Elliot, who represents Surulere Constituency I, made the disclosure during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Tuesday while reacting to comments by Femi Gbajabiamila that he nearly lost his position over alleged involvement in the impeachment plot.
According to the lawmaker, he was outside Nigeria when the impeachment took place in January 2025, explaining that he travelled with his wife during the Assembly recess to attend a family wedding in South Africa.
Elliot said the impeachment of Obasa came as a surprise to him, adding that he only returned to Nigeria about two days after the development.
He stated that many lawmakers were under the impression that the move had presidential approval, which influenced his decision to append his signature to the impeachment document.
The actor-turned-politician noted that almost all members of the Assembly had already signed the document before he eventually did, stressing that the lawmakers genuinely believed the directive came from the Presidency.
According to him, the situation later changed after President Bola Tinubu reportedly informed lawmakers that the impeachment did not have his authorisation and instructed them to reinstate Obasa.
Elliot said the lawmakers subsequently complied with the President’s directive and returned Obasa as Speaker.
Reacting to Gbajabiamila’s remarks that he nearly lost his job because of intelligence reports linking him to the impeachment move, Elliot expressed surprise, citing their long-standing political relationship.
The impeachment crisis began on January 13, 2025, when a majority of lawmakers removed Obasa as Speaker while he was reportedly on vacation in the United States.
Lawmakers accused him of gross misconduct, abuse of office, financial mismanagement, poor leadership, and persistent lateness to legislative sittings.
Following his removal, Deputy Speaker Mojisola Meranda was elected Speaker, becoming the first woman to lead the Lagos Assembly.
However, Obasa rejected the impeachment, insisting that due process was not followed and describing the action as unconstitutional.
The development sparked weeks of political tension, legal battles, and leadership disputes within the Assembly before the crisis was eventually resolved with Meranda’s resignation and Obasa’s reinstatement as Speaker.
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