Desmond Elliot Explains Why He Signed Obasa Impeachment Document

Lagos lawmaker and Nollywood actor Desmond Elliot has explained his role in the attempted impeachment of Lagos State House of Assembly Speaker Mudashiru Obasa, saying he believed the move had the backing of the presidency at the time.

Elliot, who represents Surulere Constituency I in the Lagos State House of Assembly, spoke during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily programme on Tuesday.

The lawmaker reacted to recent comments by the Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, who disclosed that intelligence reports linking Elliot to the impeachment process almost cost him his position in the Presidency.

According to Elliot, he was outside Nigeria when the impeachment drama unfolded in January 2025 and initially had limited information about the situation.

He explained that he travelled with his wife during the Assembly recess to attend a family wedding in South Africa.

“I wasn’t in the country,” Elliot said, adding that the impeachment news came as a surprise while he was abroad.

The actor-turned-politician stated that by the time he returned to Nigeria, many lawmakers had already signed the impeachment document against Obasa.

“And then I saw that almost everybody had signed. And pretty much we thought it was from the presidency,” he explained.

According to him, the widespread assumption among lawmakers was that the move enjoyed approval from powerful political authorities at the national level.

Elliot admitted that he eventually added his signature to the impeachment document after observing that many of his colleagues had already done so.

He noted that he was likely among the later lawmakers to sign because several members who had also travelled outside the country had returned before him.

The Lagos Assembly crisis emerged as one of the most significant political controversies within the ruling All Progressives Congress in recent years.

The dispute reportedly exposed internal divisions among influential political blocs in Lagos and generated tensions within the state’s power structure.

Although details surrounding the impeachment plot remained largely behind closed doors, the crisis triggered intense political speculation and reportedly required high-level intervention before it was eventually resolved.

Gbajabiamila had earlier disclosed publicly that President Tinubu confronted him over intelligence reports linking Elliot to the impeachment efforts, although the Chief of Staff maintained he had no role in destabilising the Assembly leadership.

Political analysts say Elliot’s explanation reflects the highly centralised nature of party politics in Lagos, where major political decisions are often believed to carry endorsement from influential power centres.

Observers also note that the lawmaker’s comments may represent an attempt to repair relationships within the Lagos APC ahead of intensifying political activities leading to the 2027 elections.

Elliot has represented Surulere Constituency I since 2015 after transitioning from Nollywood into active politics.

Over the years, he has remained one of the most prominent entertainers serving in elected office in Nigeria.