Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, said he nearly lost his position last year over the role of Hon. Desmond Elliot in the Lagos State House of Assembly crisis that led to the impeachment of Speaker Mudashiru Obasa.
Speaking publicly for the first time on the matter, Gbajabiamila said President Tinubu summoned him to his Abuja residence during the peak of the saga. According to him, the president raised concerns about Elliot’s involvement, telling him: “I hear this Desmond is your boy, the one we gave you.”
Gbajabiamila said he confirmed that Elliot was one of those he had brought into politics, adding that the lawmaker was among those “causing problems in the Lagos House of Assembly” at the time. The impeachment of Obasa in early 2025 split the Assembly and drew national attention to tensions within the Lagos APC.
The Chief of Staff did not give details of how the situation was resolved, but said the incident created serious political pressure on his office. He has served as Tinubu’s Chief of Staff since May 2023 after resigning as Speaker of the House of Representatives.
It was eventually resolved when Meranda resigned, paving the way for Obasa’s reinstatement as Speaker following interventions by the presidency and party leadership.
