A dramatic political shift is unfolding in Lagos State as Hon. Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa, who was impeached as Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly on January 13, 2025, is set to return to his position. This follows a series of intense meetings and negotiations among key political figures in the state.
It has been confirmed that Obasa’s security details, which were removed following his impeachment, have now been reinstated. In contrast, the security details of Hon. Mojisola Lasbat Meranda, who took over as Speaker after Obasa’s removal, have been withdrawn. Meranda, the first woman to hold the position in Lagos, had only held the role for a short time before the crisis in the House took a new turn.
While Meranda has not yet formally resigned as Speaker, sources close to the situation reveal that her fate was effectively sealed over the weekend after a high-level meeting among prominent members of the All Progressives Congress (APC). This meeting included the former National Chairman of the APC, Chief Bisi Akande, former Governor of Osun State, Chief Olusegun Osoba, and Dr. Muiz Banire, the former Commissioner for Justice in Lagos. They were joined by members of the Governance Advisory Council (GAC) and several lawmakers who all discussed the way forward for the state’s assembly.
A source close to the meeting said, “In truth, what they said was that Obasa’s removal was illegal, and the lawmakers were directed at the meeting to go and return him.” This resolution, which largely favours Obasa, has sparked speculation that he will soon return to his position as Speaker.
The political drama in the Lagos House of Assembly began on January 13, 2025, when Obasa was removed after an alleged internal conflict. Hon. Meranda was then unanimously elected as Speaker, making history as the first female to hold the position in the state. However, Meranda’s time in the role has been turbulent, with political pressure building in the background.
The developments over the weekend highlight the deep divisions within the ruling APC in Lagos. The APC, under the leadership of its national party, has struggled with internal conflicts, and the removal of Obasa, a prominent figure in Lagos politics, has caused significant disruption.
The meeting that took place was not just about Obasa’s fate but also about the direction of the Lagos Assembly as a whole. APC leaders are said to have agreed that the removal of Obasa was not in accordance with the law. The political leaders reportedly insisted that Obasa should return to the position he once held, stating that his impeachment lacked the necessary legal backing.
The intervention of these high-profile figures in Lagos politics is seen as a bid to restore order and ensure that the state House of Assembly functions smoothly. There are still many uncertainties surrounding the timing of Obasa’s return, as it is not yet clear when the House will reconvene to implement the changes.
The crisis in the Lagos House of Assembly reached a peak two weeks ago when a commotion broke out in the Assembly, following the invasion of the premises by operatives from the Department of State Services (DSS). The invasion was seen as an effort to restore stability to the Assembly, but it only added to the confusion and uncertainty surrounding the leadership of the House.
Hon. Meranda, who had assumed the role of Speaker in the wake of Obasa’s impeachment, was forced to adjourn plenary indefinitely after the incident. The move was seen as a response to the ongoing instability in the House and the pressure from various political figures to resolve the matter. Despite her status as the first female Speaker of Lagos, Meranda’s leadership has been under heavy scrutiny, and the withdrawal of her security details has further cast doubt on her position.
The role of the APC in the crisis cannot be overstated. As the ruling party in Lagos, the APC has a significant influence over the workings of the state House of Assembly. The party’s internal struggles, particularly the divide between different factions, have played a key role in the instability within the Assembly. The involvement of key APC figures in resolving the crisis highlights the party’s efforts to restore control and ensure that the House operates in line with its interests.
