The Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, has revealed that he nearly lost his position in President Bola Tinubu’s administration during last year’s Lagos State House of Assembly speakership crisis, which followed the impeachment and reinstatement drama involving former Speaker Mudashiru Obasa.
Gbajabiamila made the disclosure on Thursday during an All Progressives Congress (APC) stakeholders’ meeting in Lagos, where he recounted behind-the-scenes political tensions that accompanied the crisis.
The political turmoil began in January 2025 when Mudashiru Obasa was impeached as Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly over allegations of gross misconduct and abuse of office. His removal came while he was reportedly outside the country.
Following his impeachment, lawmakers elected then-Deputy Speaker Mojisola Meranda, making her the first female Speaker of the House.
However, Obasa rejected the impeachment process upon his return to Nigeria and challenged it in court.
After 49 days in office, Meranda stepped down, and Obasa was reinstated following political interventions at the federal level. A court later nullified the assembly proceedings that led to his removal.
Speaking at the APC meeting, Gbajabiamila said the crisis escalated to a point where his loyalty and involvement were questioned, particularly in relation to Lagos lawmaker Desmond Elliot, who was allegedly linked to the impeachment plot.
“I almost lost my job as chief of staff last year because of Desmond Elliot. He’s alive today; you can go and verify with him,” he said.
Gbajabiamila explained that President Bola Tinubu summoned him to his residence in Abuja during the height of the crisis and mentioned Elliot among those allegedly involved in the political upheaval in the Lagos Assembly.
He said he immediately defended the lawmaker, insisting he had no prior knowledge of Elliot’s involvement. After the meeting, he said he contacted Elliot and urged him to distance himself from the impeachment controversy if he was connected in any way.
Gbajabiamila further revealed that three days after his conversation with the President, the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS) contacted him, stating that allegations were circulating that he supported Elliot’s alleged role in the crisis.
“Of course, the president will not believe that Desmond will do such a thing, and I don’t know about it,” he said.
He added that he again advised Elliot to publicly clarify his position, but the lawmaker declined to do so.
“If it were not that I had the kind of relationship I had with the president, I wouldn’t be here today,” Gbajabiamila said.
The Chief of Staff also accused Elliot of worsening political tensions in Surulere constituency, alleging that the lawmaker contributed to religious divisions between Muslim and Christian groups in the area.
The comments add a new layer of political friction within Lagos APC circles, where internal disputes have continued to surface following the assembly leadership crisis.
The revelations come just days after APC stakeholders in Surulere alleged that Gbajabiamila was attempting to impose a preferred female aspirant for the Lagos State House of Assembly seat, further intensifying political undercurrents within the constituency.
The developments highlight ongoing power struggles within the Lagos APC structure, even as key figures in the ruling party continue to navigate alliances ahead of future elections.
