Fresh revelations have emerged from the political tension surrounding the leadership crisis in the Lagos State House of Assembly, as Chief of Staff to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, disclosed how the controversy almost cost him his position inside the Presidency.
Speaking on the lingering political crisis linked to the attempted impeachment saga involving former Speaker Mudashiru Obasa, Gbajabiamila revealed that President Tinubu personally summoned him to his Abuja residence during the peak of the tension for questioning.
According to the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, the President directly asked him whether popular Nollywood actor-turned-lawmaker Desmond Elliott was politically close to him.
Gbajabiamila admitted that he confirmed to the President that Desmond Elliott was indeed “his boy,” but immediately clarified that the lawmaker was not among those allegedly working against Obasa within the Lagos Assembly.
However, the President reportedly disagreed with him.
Gbajabiamila stated that President Tinubu informed him that intelligence reports reaching him suggested Desmond Elliott was actively involved among lawmakers allegedly fueling the crisis rocking the Assembly at the time.
The revelation, according to Gbajabiamila, immediately raised concerns for him due to the seriousness of the political situation and the sensitivity of loyalty within Lagos APC power circles.
Following the meeting, the President’s Chief of Staff said he immediately contacted Desmond Elliott to seek clarification and warned him to distance himself from any group allegedly linked to the impeachment moves if he was truly involved.
But the situation reportedly escalated days later.
Gbajabiamila revealed that about three days after his conversation with the actor-politician, the Director-General of the Department of State Services contacted him with disturbing information.
According to him, his own name had allegedly started appearing in intelligence discussions as one of the individuals believed to be backing the impeachment plot against Obasa through support for Desmond Elliott.
The disclosure, he said, placed him in an extremely difficult position politically and personally, especially considering his strategic role within the administration of President Tinubu.
Gbajabiamila explained that he immediately informed the DSS Director-General that he had already spoken with Desmond Elliott, who denied being part of any anti-Obasa group.
To further clear the air, he said he instructed the lawmaker to publicly deny involvement in the Assembly crisis and distance himself from the allegations circulating within political circles.
Surprisingly, according to Gbajabiamila, Desmond Elliott never publicly addressed the allegations nor issued any formal statement denying participation in the impeachment saga.
The former Speaker’s remarks have since triggered fresh reactions across Nigeria’s political space, especially within Lagos APC structures where the battle for influence ahead of future elections continues to intensify.
Political observers believe the revelation exposes the deep internal cracks and loyalty battles within the Lagos political establishment, long regarded as the strongest base of President Tinubu’s political influence.
The controversy also adds another layer to the ongoing debates surrounding Desmond Elliott’s political future, particularly amid reports that some influential party stakeholders are uncomfortable with the idea of him returning to the Lagos State House of Assembly for a fourth term.
Gbajabiamila’s comments have now fueled speculations that resistance against Elliott’s continued stay in the Assembly may not be unconnected to the events surrounding the Obasa crisis and concerns over political trust within the ruling party.
The Lagos Assembly crisis itself generated major national attention after allegations of internal rebellion, leadership disputes, and power struggles emerged among lawmakers loyal to different political blocs within the state.
Although many of the issues were managed internally by party leaders and influential stakeholders, the latest revelations from Gbajabiamila suggest the tension behind the scenes was far more intense than publicly known.
With preparations already building quietly toward future political contests in Lagos State, the unfolding drama may further reshape alliances, loyalties, and power calculations within the state’s ruling political structure.
The development has also reignited conversations online about the influence of loyalty, intelligence reports, and internal political survival within Nigeria’s highest corridors of power.
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