Tinubu, DSS, and the Lagos Assembly Crisis: Gbajabiamila’s Account of Internal Tensions

The Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, has revealed that he came under intense political and security scrutiny last year during the crisis that rocked the Lagos State House of Assembly leadership, saying the episode almost cost him his job.

Gbajabiamila said the controversy peaked during the impeachment-related tensions involving former Speaker Mudashiru Obasa, a situation that reportedly drew in senior political actors and security agencies.

According to him, President Bola Tinubu personally confronted him in a private meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, questioning his relationship with Lagos lawmaker and actor, Desmond Elliot, who was alleged to have been linked to factions within the Assembly crisis.

“President Tinubu called me to his study in his Abuja house during the Obasa impeachment saga and asked me if Desmond Elliott was my boy. I replied to the president that he’s my boy,” he said.

Gbajabiamila said the President informed him that intelligence reports had suggested Elliot was involved in activities fueling tensions in the Lagos legislature, an allegation he immediately disputed.

“President Tinubu then told me that he heard that Desmond was part of the people causing problems in the Lagos State House of Assembly. Immediately, I told the President that Desmond wasn’t part of them, but the president replied to me and said that from the intelligence he got, Desmond was part of them,” he added.

Following the meeting, Gbajabiamila said he contacted Elliot to relay the President’s concerns and advised him to distance himself from any group suspected of driving the crisis.

The situation escalated days later, when the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS) reportedly reached out to him over allegations linking him to the unfolding political conflict.

“Three days later, the DSS DG called me and said there’s a problem. He said your name is being mentioned that you’re the one behind the impeachment saga and that you’re supporting Desmond,” Gbajabiamila recounted.

He said he firmly denied any involvement, insisting he had already spoken with Elliot, who also denied participating in any factional activity.

“I told the DSS DG that I’ve spoken to Desmond and he denied being part of the group,” he said.

Gbajabiamila added that he subsequently urged Elliot to publicly clarify his position to end speculation surrounding the matter, but said the lawmaker has yet to issue any formal statement.

“I then called Desmond to make a public statement to deny his involvement in the impeachment saga, but till today, he hasn’t done it,” he said.

The Chief of Staff said the episode briefly placed his role under pressure, as his name was repeatedly mentioned in connection with the crisis, though he maintained he acted only to prevent misinformation and calm political tensions within Lagos State’s legislature.