Desmond Elliot has opened up about his role in the impeachment process against Mudashiru Obasa in January 2025, explaining why he signed the impeachment document.
The Lagos State House of Assembly member representing Surulere Constituency I made the clarification during a television interview on Tuesday, May 19, amid growing political tension surrounding his political future.
Elliot was reacting to remarks by Femi Gbajabiamila, who claimed the lawmaker nearly lost his political position over intelligence reports linking him to the impeachment plot.
According to Elliot, he was outside Nigeria when the impeachment process began and believed at the time that the move had the approval of the presidency.
“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. We were in recess and then it was an opportunity for us to travel to attend my wife’s younger sister’s wedding,” he said.
The actor-turned-politician explained that he was in South Africa when news of Obasa’s impeachment broke and admitted that the development shocked him.
“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. 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. I believe I was maybe 30-something person at that point in time because others who had travelled had returned and others who signed,” he said.
Elliot added that lawmakers later received clarification from Bola Tinubu that the impeachment was not authorised by him.
“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.
Responding to Gbajabiamila’s statement, Elliot expressed surprise, especially considering their long-standing 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 impeachment crisis involving Mudashiru Obasa began on January 13, 2025, after lawmakers of the Lagos State House of Assembly removed him as Speaker while he was reportedly on vacation in the United States.
The lawmakers accused him of gross misconduct, abuse of office, poor leadership, lateness to plenary sessions, and alleged financial mismanagement.
Following the impeachment, his deputy, Mojisola Meranda, emerged as the first female Speaker of the Assembly.
However, Obasa rejected the impeachment, insisting that due process was not followed. The political crisis later led to court cases, leadership disputes, and interventions from APC leaders before Meranda eventually resigned, paving the way for Obasa’s return as Speaker.