Gbajabiamila: Desmond Elliot’s House impeachment controversy almost got me fired

CHIEF of Staff to the President, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila, has revealed that he nearly lost his position following allegations linking Desmond Elliot to the political crisis that engulfed the Lagos State House of Assembly during the speakership dispute involving Mudashiru Obasa.

In a video circulating on social media on Thursday, Gbajabiamila recounted how Tinubu summoned him to his residence in Abuja at the peak of the controversy surrounding Obasa’s impeachment.

According to the former speaker of the House of Representatives, the president confronted him over intelligence reports alleging that Elliot, who represents Surulere Constituency I in the Lagos Assembly, was involved in moves to destabilise the legislature.

“I almost lost my job as chief of staff last year because of Desmond Elliot,” Gbajabiamila said.

He explained that Tinubu told him, “I hear this Desmond is your boy, the one we gave you,” before accusing the lawmaker of being among those allegedly fuelling the crisis in the Assembly.

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Gbajabiamila said he immediately defended Elliot, insisting he was unaware of any involvement by the actor-turned-politician in the dispute.

“Immediately I said to Mr. President, no, no, no. Desmond is not part of them. I haven’t even spoken to him. I didn’t know whether he was part of that,” he stated.

According to him, Tinubu maintained that intelligence available to him suggested otherwise and instructed him to warn Elliot to withdraw from any alleged involvement.

Gbajabiamila said he subsequently contacted Elliot and relayed the president’s warning.

“I called him. That’s what I told him. Just like the president, this is what he said. If you are one of these people, if you are part of them, get out of there,” he added.

The chief of staff further disclosed that the director-general of the Department of State Services later reached out to him over claims that both he and Elliot were being linked to the crisis.

“Three days later, the director-general of DSS called me and said there’s a problem. Your name is being mentioned all over the place,” Gbajabiamila said.

He noted that he again contacted Elliot and urged him to publicly clear his name of the allegations, though he claimed the lawmaker had yet to issue any statement on the matter.

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

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

Following the impeachment, Obasa’s Deputy, Mojisola Meranda, was elected speaker, becoming the first woman to occupy the position.

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Obasa, however, rejected the move, insisting the impeachment process violated constitutional procedures.

The crisis led to weeks of political tension, legal battles and interventions by leaders of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) before Meranda eventually stepped down, paving the way for Obasa’s return as Speaker.

The alleged involvement of Elliot in the saga has not been independently verified.