By Our Correspondent

National News – Desmond Elliot has explained why he signed the impeachment notice against Lagos State House of Assembly Speaker Mudashiru Obasa during the political crisis that rocked the Assembly in January 2025.

Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, the Surulere Constituency I lawmaker said he believed the impeachment move had the backing of President Bola Tinubu before appending his signature to the document.

Elliot reacted after Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, claimed he almost lost his position because intelligence reports linked Elliot to the impeachment plot.

According to Elliot, he was outside Nigeria with his wife during the early stages of the crisis and only returned after learning about the impeachment while in South Africa for a family wedding.

The lawmaker stated that he was shocked by the development but noticed that many Assembly members had already signed the notice before his return.

He explained that lawmakers believed the process had presidential approval, prompting him to support the action.

Elliot added that President Tinubu later clarified that the impeachment was not authorised and directed lawmakers to reinstate Obasa as Speaker.

The Lagos Assembly crisis began on January 13, 2025, when lawmakers removed Obasa while he was reportedly on vacation in the United States.

The legislators accused him of gross misconduct, abuse of office, poor leadership style, financial mismanagement, and persistent lateness to legislative sessions.

His deputy, Mojisola Meranda, briefly became the first female Speaker of the Assembly before resigning to pave the way for Obasa’s return.

Elliot also expressed disappointment over Gbajabiamila’s comments, saying he was surprised such remarks came from a political mentor he had worked closely with for years.

The impeachment controversy later triggered court cases, political interventions, and leadership tensions within the Lagos State House of Assembly.