“I thought Obasa’s Impeachment Move had Presidential Backing” – Elliott

By Akinwale Kasali

Embattled Lawmaker, Desmond Elliott, representing Surulere 1 Constituency, has opened up on his involvement in the Impeachment Move against Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa in 2025.

The move, which is about costing him his  return to LAHA, has seen him running from pillar to post, apologizing for his misdeeds, claiming that he thought the impeachment move had Presidential backing.

Recall that the Chief of Staff to President Bola  Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, had alleged that Elliott’s involvement in the impeachment saga almost cost him his job, leading to his decision to work against Elliott’s return to the House.

The actor turned- politician is  exonerating himself, saying that he was out of the country at the time of the incident and had the impression that the impeachment 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 on 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 occurred while he was in South Africa and came as a shock to him.

“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  signed,” he said.

Elliot said the Lawmakers later received clarification from President Bola Tinubu that 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 added.

He however revealed that when Gbajabiamila came up with the accusation, it was a rude shock to him, putting into consideration their longtime relationship.

“So, my leader (Gbajabiamila) coming to say this, that he almost lost his job, one I have served and who has also been there for me for this long, to have said that, it came to me as a shock,” he said.

It is obvious that the rug has been pulled from under the feet of Elliott as almost every who-is-who in his State Constituency is backing another, now, preferred candidate.