Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila has revealed that he nearly lost his position during the political crisis that rocked the Lagos State House of Assembly due to the alleged involvement of lawmaker and actor-turned-politician Desmond Elliot.
Gbajabiamila made the disclosure on Thursday while speaking at a stakeholders’ meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos. He recounted how President Bola Tinubu confronted him during the controversy surrounding the impeachment of Lagos Assembly Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa.
According to Gbajabiamila, the President summoned him to his study in Abuja and questioned him over allegations linking Elliot to individuals allegedly fueling tensions in the Lagos Assembly.
He said the President reminded him that Elliot was considered politically close to him and expressed concerns that the Surulere lawmaker was involved in the crisis.
Gbajabiamila explained that although he had not yet discussed the matter with Elliot, he initially defended him before the President, insisting he was not among those creating instability in the Assembly.
He said the President, however, maintained that intelligence reports suggested otherwise and directed him to ensure Elliot withdrew from any activity linked to the crisis.
The former Speaker of the House of Representatives stated that he immediately reached out and warned Elliot to distance himself if he had any connection to the matter.
According to him, the issue escalated further days later when he received information suggesting his own name had begun circulating as someone allegedly backing Elliot and the political unrest.
Gbajabiamila said the situation became serious because many people believed Elliot would not have acted without his knowledge or support.
He added that he later instructed Elliot to publicly deny any involvement in the controversy in order to clear misconceptions and protect his own reputation.
Reflecting on the situation, he noted that his longstanding relationship with President Tinubu may have helped him survive the political pressure.
He also accused Elliot of actions he said deepened divisions within the party, alleging that correspondence sent to party leaders created unnecessary tensions along religious lines.
The political crisis began after Obasa was removed as Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly following allegations of misconduct and abuse of office by lawmakers.
Following his removal, former Deputy Speaker Mojisola Meranda emerged as Speaker, becoming the first woman to occupy the position in Lagos State.
However, Obasa rejected his removal after returning to Nigeria and challenged the process in court. The crisis was eventually resolved after political intervention led to Meranda stepping down and Obasa returning to office.
Subsequently, a court nullified the Assembly proceedings that led to Obasa’s impeachment.
The development comes amid increasing political activities ahead of the 2027 elections.
Desmond Elliot, who currently represents Surulere Constituency I in the Lagos State House of Assembly, is seeking the APC ticket for another electoral contest. In his declaration, he stated that his decision was driven by a commitment to continue serving and advancing the aspirations of his constituents.
However, reports suggest the actor-politician may not currently be the preferred candidate within the ruling party as internal political calculations ahead of the elections continue to unfold.
Gbajabiamila Reveals How Desmond Elliot’s Role in Lagos Assembly Crisis Nearly Cost Him Chief of Staff Position
