Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Chief of Staff to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, has made a stunning revelation about how he almost lost his job during the height of the crisis that rocked the Lagos State House of Assembly in 2025. Speaking at a public event on Friday, May 15, 2026, Gbajabiamila disclosed that President Tinubu summoned him to his residence in Abuja and confronted him over the conduct of Honourable Desmond Elliot, a Lagos lawmaker and a known political ally of the Chief of Staff. According to Gbajabiamila, the president was furious about the role Elliot was playing in the bitter leadership tussle that threatened to remove Speaker Mudashiru Obasa from office.
Gbajabiamila, who previously served as Speaker of the House of Representatives, narrated the tense encounter to his audience, recounting the president’s exact words. “Mr. President called me to his house in Abuja during the Lagos Speaker Obasa saga. He said, ‘I hear this Desmond is your boy, the one we gave you,’ and I said, ‘Yes, sir.’ He is one of the people causing problems in the Lagos House of Assembly.” The Chief of Staff admitted that he felt the weight of the president’s displeasure and realised that his position was in jeopardy. “I almost lost my job as Chief of Staff last year because of Desmond Elliot,” he said.
The crisis in the Lagos State House of Assembly erupted in early 2025 when a faction of lawmakers launched an impeachment plot against Speaker Mudashiru Obasa. The move, which was reportedly backed by some powerful political interests, threatened to destabilise the legislative arm of the state government. Desmond Elliot, who represents Surulere Constituency 1, was one of the prominent figures allegedly aligned with the anti‑Obasa faction. His actions drew the ire of President Tinubu, who is known for his tight control over political affairs in Lagos, his political base. The president was said to be displeased that a lawmaker from his own political family was fanning the flames of discord.
Gbajabiamila revealed that he quickly moved to address the president’s concerns. He told the audience that after the meeting, he reached out to Elliot and managed to calm the situation. “I went and talked to him, and we resolved the matter,” Gbajabiamila said. The Chief of Staff did not go into further details about what exactly Elliot did or how the resolution was achieved, but his comments confirmed that the crisis had reached the highest level of the presidency and nearly cost him his role as the president’s right‑hand man.
The Lagos Assembly crisis eventually fizzled out, and Speaker Obasa retained his position. However, the incident left a sour taste in the mouths of many political observers, who saw it as evidence of the heavy‑handed influence of the presidency in state legislative affairs. Gbajabiamila’s latest revelation is the first time a senior official has publicly acknowledged the behind‑the‑scenes drama that nearly led to a major leadership change in the country’s most strategic state.
Desmond Elliot, who is also a well‑known Nollywood actor‑turned‑politician, has not yet responded to Gbajabiamila’s remarks. However, political analysts have noted that Elliot’s close relationship with the Chief of Staff has long been a subject of speculation. Elliot was elected to the Lagos Assembly in 2015 and has since been a vocal lawmaker. During the impeachment saga, he was accused of leading a faction that sought to remove Obasa over allegations of high‑handedness and financial mismanagement. The attempt ultimately failed after President Tinubu intervened to broker a truce.
Gbajabiamila’s admission also sheds light on the delicate balancing act that political appointees must perform when their protégés fall out of favour with the president. The Chief of Staff, who was appointed in 2023 shortly after Tinubu took office, has been a key figure in the administration. His survival in the role despite the near‑miss is a testament to his political dexterity. He was able to convince the president that he could manage the situation and that Elliot’s actions did not reflect a broader conspiracy against the presidency.
The Lagos Assembly remains one of the most powerful legislative bodies in Nigeria, given the state’s status as the country’s economic capital. The stability of the Assembly is therefore a matter of national concern, and President Tinubu’s intervention was seen as an effort to prevent a political crisis that could have had ripple effects across the South‑West. Gbajabiamila’s role as the intermediary between the presidency and the lawmakers underscores his importance as a bridge between federal and state power structures.
Following the event, reactions on social media were swift. Many Nigerians expressed surprise that the president would consider firing his Chief of Staff over the actions of a state lawmaker. Others praised Gbajabiamila for his honesty and for taking responsibility for the conduct of his political associate. Some commentators noted that the episode highlights the extent to which the president is personally invested in the day‑to‑day politics of Lagos, a state he governed for eight years before becoming president.
Gbajabiamila did not specify the exact date of the incident, but he referred to it as “last year,” placing it in 2025. The Lagos Speaker Obasa impeachment saga was at its peak in the first quarter of 2025, so the presidential summons likely occurred around that time. The Chief of Staff’s decision to speak about it now, more than a year later, may be part of an effort to clear the air and demonstrate his own loyalty to the president while also showing that he has no lingering bitterness over the ordeal.
The president’s office has not commented on Gbajabiamila’s remarks. However, a presidency source who spoke on condition of anonymity confirmed that there was indeed tension during the Lagos Assembly crisis, but that the matter was resolved amicably. The source also praised Gbajabiamila for his role in de‑escalating the situation, stating that the Chief of Staff’s intervention was critical in preserving the peace.
As for Desmond Elliot, the actor‑politician may find himself once again in the spotlight. His name has now been linked to a near‑firing of the president’s Chief of Staff. Whether this will affect his political future in Lagos remains to be seen. Elliot has not yet publicly commented on the matter, and his aides declined to respond to inquiries. For now, the story stands as a fascinating glimpse into the high‑stakes world of Nigerian presidential politics, where a single lawmaker’s actions can nearly cost the president’s closest aide his job.
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