Mr Gbajabiamila said he told Mr Elliot to publicly dissociate himself from Mr Obasa's removal but that the state lawmaker did not do so.

Femi Gbajabiamila, the chief of staff to President Bola Tinubu, said that he almost lost his job because of his support for Desmond Elliot, a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly who is seeking another term in office.

Mr Gbajabiamila, while speaking to his supporters in a video seen on Thursday, said President Tinubu called him to ask about Mr Elliot.

"I hear this Desmond is your boy," he quoted the President as saying. Mr Gbajabiamila said he answered in the affirmative.

The COS said President Tinubu told him that Mr Elliot is one of the lawmakers behind the controversial impeachment of Mudashiru Obasa as the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly.

PREMIUM TIMES reported the removal of Mr Obasa by his fellow lawmakers and his reinstatement, allegedly at the instance of Mr Tinubu, who is also from Lagos.

Mr Gbajabiamila said he told Mr Elliot to publicly dissociate himself from Mr Obasa's removal but that the state lawmaker did not do so.

Mr Elliot represents Surulere constituency in the Lagos Assembly, the same constituency that Mr Gbajabiamila represented in the House of Representatives before he became COS.

Mr Elliot is facing a major challenge to his reelection and is believed not to have the support of Mr Gbajabiamila and President Tinubu.

Details later...