Why I Signed Obasa’s Impeachment Notice — Desmond Elliot
Lagos State House of Assembly member, Desmond Elliot, has given details of his involvement in the January 2025 impeachment process against former Speaker Mudashiru Obasa, explaining why he appended his signature to the impeachment document.
Elliot spoke during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Tuesday while reacting to comments by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, who said he nearly lost his job over intelligence linking him to the impeachment attempt.
He said he was not in the country when the incident happened and only got involved based on the impression that the move had presidential backing.
“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.
He added that the impeachment took place while he was in South Africa and came to him as a surprise.
“That was the time Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa was impeached (by Lagos State House of Assembly).
“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 stated that the lawmakers later received clarification from President Bola Tinubu, who told them 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 said.
Reacting to Gbajabiamila’s comments, Elliot said the claim came as a shock given their long-standing relationship.
“So, my leader (Gbajabiamila) 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 saga began on January 13, 2025, when a majority of the Lagos State House of Assembly impeached Obasa over allegations of gross misconduct, abuse of office, and financial mismanagement.
He was immediately replaced by Mojisola Meranda, who became the first female Speaker of the House.
Obasa rejected the move, describing it as illegal and insisting due process was not followed.
The crisis later triggered weeks of political tension, court actions, and interventions by APC leaders and the Presidency, before Meranda eventually stepped down and Obasa was reinstated as Speaker.
Sodiq Yusuf is a trained media practitioner and journalist with considerable years of experience in print, broadcast, and digital journalism. His interests cover a wide range of causes in politics, governance, sports, community development, and good governance.
