The lawmaker representing Surulere Constituency I, Desmond Elliot, has explained why he signed the impeachment notice that removed Lagos State House of Assembly Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, in January 2025, saying lawmakers believed the move had the backing of the presidency.

Elliot made this known on Tuesday during an appearance on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, where he addressed comments by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, that he almost lost his political position over reports linking him to the impeachment plot.

Elliot said he was outside Nigeria when the impeachment took place and only learnt about the development while in South Africa.

“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 in recess and then it was an opportunity for us to travel to attend my wife’s younger sister’s wedding,” he said.

The lawmaker stated that the impeachment of Obasa caught him unaware and left him confused like many others.

“That was the time Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa was impeached.

“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 others who signed.”

According to Elliot, the lawmakers later received clarification from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu that the impeachment did not have his approval.

“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.

Reacting to Gbajabiamila’s remarks, Elliot described the statement as surprising, considering their political relationship over the years.

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