Lagos House of Assembly Crisis Deepens as Obasa Claims Resumption, Meranda Stands Firm
The leadership crisis in the Lagos State House of Assembly remains unresolved, with the 35 lawmakers who removed Mudashiru Obasa from his position as Speaker remaining firm in their stance that he will not be reinstated.
Obasa, however, declared on Thursday that he had resumed his position as Speaker, claiming he was never truly removed. His assertion came after his security details were reinstated, leading him to hold a plenary session with just four other lawmakers.
“I’ve resumed, and I remain the Speaker of the Assembly. I’ve never been removed,” Obasa told reporters outside the House. He went on to stress that impeachment or removal must follow due process, asserting that he would not oppose such measures as long as they were carried out democratically.
Obasa’s return followed high-level meetings among notable figures from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), including former governors Bisi Akande and Aremo Olusegun Osoba, and Lagos Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu. These leaders had previously met with the lawmakers in an attempt to resolve the crisis, with some sources suggesting that a panel proposed Obasa’s resignation and Mojisola Meranda’s stepping down to allow another lawmaker from Lagos West to take over. However, these suggestions fell apart after Obasa’s return to the Assembly.
Sources close to the situation indicated that Obasa’s return was backed by President Bola Tinubu’s loyalists, claiming that the APC leaders met with Obasa late on Wednesday night to secure his position.
An APC source described Obasa’s return as a “massive political statement,” noting that the plenary session he held signified a shift in the political tide in his favor. The source added that the security presence at the Assembly reinforced the idea that Obasa’s return was politically significant.
Meranda, the newly recognized Speaker, however, remains unyielding. She insists that she remains the legitimate leader of the Assembly and that Obasa’s actions amount to “a show of shame,” as he held his plenary session with only a handful of lawmakers.
“Obasa can come to the Assembly as a member, but what he did was an invasion of my office,” Meranda said. She also expressed concerns over the lack of full security for her, contrasting her usual protection with the limited presence of officers assigned to her. Despite this, she maintained that the Assembly would soon reconvene and continue its work under her leadership.
The situation remains volatile, with heavy security surrounding the Assembly complex and conflicting reports on who truly controls the House. Obasa’s actions, particularly his return with a large security detail, suggest that he is still holding considerable political influence. However, Meranda and the majority of the 35 lawmakers who removed Obasa insist they will not back down.
Amid the chaos, there have been reports that the federal government may be involved in the crisis, particularly with the changing of security officials in Lagos. Some lawmakers believe that Obasa’s confidence is due to backing from the presidency.
The Governance Advisory Council (GAC) has remained largely silent, though its Chairman, Tajudeen Olusi, stated that the group had privately offered advice to the warring factions.
Meanwhile, the APC’s Publicity Secretary, Seye Oladejo, called for peace, urging all parties to resolve the matter amicably without the influence of external parties. He denied any involvement by President Tinubu in the crisis, emphasizing that the party was simply facilitating internal dialogue to find a solution.
As tensions mount, the crisis appears far from over, with both sides showing no signs of backing down anytime soon.
