Former Speaker of the House of Representatives and Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, has spoken about the Obasa impeachment saga, explaining how internal political tensions in the Lagos State House of Assembly and alleged involvement of lawmaker Desmond Elliot created pressure around his political standing. He said the situation unfolded during the leadership dispute involving Mudashiru Obasa.
The Obasa impeachment saga stems from leadership disputes within the Lagos State House of Assembly involving the removal and reinstatement processes tied to former Speaker Mudashiru Obasa. The development triggered divisions within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State, drawing attention from party stakeholders and security observers.
Gbajabiamila, who represents Surulere Federal Constituency and currently serves as Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, said the political tensions extended beyond the Assembly and affected internal party relationships. The saga became a focal point of internal political discussions following reports linking certain lawmakers to factional alignments within the legislature during the dispute period.
Gbajabiamila stated that President Bola Tinubu summoned him during the peak of the Obasa impeachment saga to address concerns surrounding Desmond Elliot’s alleged involvement. He quoted the President as saying, “I hear this Desmond is your boy, the one we gave you,” referring to Elliot, and confirmed his association.
He further explained that intelligence reports suggested Elliot was mentioned in relation to activities connected to the Assembly leadership dispute. The Obasa impeachment saga also led to scrutiny from security agencies, including contact from the Department of State Services (DSS), according to Gbajabiamila.
He added that he engaged Desmond Elliot directly to clarify the allegations and his reported role in the Assembly tensions. The matter, he noted, required intervention at the highest political level to prevent escalation within the party and legislative structure
The impeachment saga highlights how internal legislative disputes can escalate into broader political and security concerns within Nigeria’s subnational governance structures.
It underscores the influence of party leadership dynamics in resolving factional disagreements within state assemblies. The episode also reflects how allegations involving lawmakers can attract attention from executive and security institutions, particularly in politically sensitive states such as Lagos.
