Lagos lawmaker representing Surulere Constituency I, Desmond Elliot, has publicly apologised to Femi Gbajabiamila over his alleged involvement in the failed impeachment attempt of former Lagos Assembly Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa.

Elliot made the apology during a television appearance on Let’s Talk, a TVC programme on Friday, where he described Gbajabiamila as his political mentor and elder brother figure.

“I know media will come out and say eh, Desmond begs again. Yes, because he’s my egbon, and I grew up learning everything I know in politics through him,” he said.

“So, I’m sorry, my daddy, if I have offended you in any way. The matriarch of Surulere, mama, I’m sorry if I have offended you, but I will keep keeping the party strong, and to all Surulereans my scorecard, my scorecard is there. You know the thing that I have done.”

The lawmaker also dismissed claims that he masterminded the failed impeachment of Obasa, insisting he was out of the country at the time of the incident.

“Firstly, I was very shocked when I saw the video. I was actually beyond shocked. During the period, my wife’s younger sister was having a wedding in South Africa,” he said.

“So, I was in South Africa when that happened… and you do know sometimes coups happen, and you don’t have to be present, so I knew nothing about it at all.”

He added that his understanding at the time was that the move had backing from higher political authorities.

“Only for me to come back, and what we heard at that period was that it came from the presidency. You know, and quite naturally, I followed the bandwagon,” he said.

“I don’t think it would be proper of me to speak negatively or ill of someone I’ve served diligently for 11 years.”

Elliot firmly denied being the mastermind behind the impeachment attempt.

“I? masterminding? That was really shocking to me… I wasn’t the mastermind of it,” he said.

The crisis in the Lagos State House of Assembly began in January 2025 when Mudashiru Obasa was impeached by lawmakers over allegations of gross misconduct and abuse of office while he was abroad.

He was replaced by then Deputy Speaker Mojisola Meranda, who briefly became the first female Speaker of the Assembly before stepping down after 49 days following political interventions.

Obasa was later reinstated after court rulings nullified the Assembly’s resolution, bringing the leadership dispute to an end.