Desmond Elliot has denied claims that he orchestrated the 2025 impeachment of Mudashiru Obasa, insisting he only signed the document after most lawmakers had already backed the move.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Tuesday, Elliot said he was out of Nigeria when the decision to remove Obasa was taken and had no hand in initiating the process.
The denial followed comments by Femi Gbajabiamila, who told APC stakeholders in Lagos that Elliot was among those involved in the controversial move against the Speaker. Gbajabiamila said the crisis nearly cost him his position in government.
Elliot rejected that account, saying the issue had already been resolved and the Lagos Assembly had moved on after Obasa’s reinstatement.
He said he initially believed the removal had the blessing of Bola Tinubu and only signed after returning to Nigeria and seeing that most lawmakers had already endorsed the action.
According to Elliot, Tinubu later clarified that he neither authorised nor ordered Obasa’s removal, prompting lawmakers to reverse course and restore the Speaker.
The Surulere lawmaker also said he was shocked by Gbajabiamila’s public comments, noting that he had always regarded the former Speaker of the House of Representatives as a political mentor.
Elliot, who is seeking a fourth term in the Lagos State House of Assembly, also dismissed speculation that APC leaders were backing another candidate to replace him ahead of party primaries.
He said no senior party official had asked him to withdraw from the race and maintained that his political future should be decided by voters in Surulere.
The Channels Television report recalled that Obasa was removed in early 2025 over allegations of abuse of office and gross misconduct. Mojisola Meranda briefly became Speaker before stepping down after Tinubu’s intervention, paving the way for Obasa’s return.
A court later nullified the Assembly proceedings that led to the impeachment, effectively closing the legal chapter of the dispute.
