Desmond Elliot, a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly representing Surulere Constituency I, elaborated on his role in the impeachment process against Speaker Mudashiru Obasa, which took place in January 2025.
In an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, he addressed comments made by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, regarding allegations that Elliot was close to losing his position due to reported intelligence connecting him to the impeachment efforts. During the discussion, Elliot clarified that he was outside the country at the time of the impeachment actions and believed that the initiative had the endorsement of the presidency. His explanations aimed to dispel any misconceptions surrounding his involvement and elucidate the context behind his signature on the impeachment document.
Elliot expressed surprise at the impeachment, which occurred while he was abroad, and noted that upon return, he observed many lawmakers had already signed the impeachment document. He believed there was a perceived endorsement from the presidency, stating, “we thought it was from the presidency,” which led him to append his signature amidst the confusion.
However, they later received clarification from President Bola Tinubu, who indicated that the impeachment was not authorized by him and urged legislators to reinstate Obasa. Elliot shared that the suggestion he might have lost his position was shocking, particularly given his longstanding history with Gbajabiamila.
The impeachment saga began on January 13, 2025, when a majority of the assembly members accused Obasa of various allegations, including gross misconduct and financial mismanagement, while he was on leave in the U.S. Following this, Mojisola Meranda was elected as the new Speaker, marking a historic moment as the first female to hold this role. Obasa deemed the impeachment unconstitutional, resulting in an ongoing crisis involving legal disputes and political interventions leading to Meranda’s resignation and ultimately, the reinstatement of Obasa as Speaker.
