Obasa and Meranda
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The leadership crisis rocking the Lagos State House of Assembly took a new twist on Thursday as Mudashiru Obasa, the ousted Speaker forced his way into the Assembly and resumed office.
Recall that majority of the members had removed him on January 13, 2025 while he was away to the United States
However, upon his return to the country, he insisted that his removal did not follow due process, insisting that he remained speaker.
Obasa made good his claims when he unexpectedly stormed the House Thursday and reclaimed his seat.
He was reportedly accompanied by heavily armed security personnel, creating a tense atmosphere.
Incidentally, the current Speaker, Mojisola Meranda, was absent since the
Assembly is on an indefinite recess.
Segun Ajiboye, Meranda’s Chief Press Secretary, CPS, confirmed Obasa’s arrival, accusing him of “breaking into the office.”
It was suggested that Obasa broke open the doors to the Speaker’s office and declared that he had resumed.
“I’ve resumed, and I remain the Speaker of the Assembly,” he reportedly said.
Meanwhile, the security details assigned to Speaker Meranda, were withdrawn allegedly on the orders of the Inspector General of Police , Kayode Egbetekun, leaving her “exposed to threats amid the ongoing speakership crisis,” according to one of her side.
The aide appealed to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the state’s Chief Security Officer, to intervene and prevent a potential breakdown of law and order.
Similarly, Olalekan Onafeko, the former suspended Clerk of the House, had added to the confusion when he also attempted to resume his duties on Wednesday but was turned away by security personnel.
Onafeko had arrived the Assembly with his lawyer and security detail and attempted to reclaim his office.
However, he was prevented from doing so. He was seen being k led out by security in a viral video captured Assembly mocked him.
Later, the Assembly management in a statement, deplored the “unauthorised entry” of Onafeko, who had been removed alongside Obasa.
Obasa’s removal by 32 out of 40 Assembly members, was premised on alleged “poor leadership style, perpetual lateness to legislative sessions and plenary, high-handedness and disregard for colleague lawmakers and the executive.”
He was promptly replaced by Meranda, representing Apapa.
Interventions from President Bola Tinubu, the Governance Advisory Council (GAC), Governor Sanwo-Olu, and the All Progressives Congress (APC), efforts to resolve the leadership dispute were not fruitful.
The Assembly has not known any peace since then xnd was forced to go in indefinite recess.
Some prominent members of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, including former governors Akinwunmi Ambode, Segun Osoba, and
Bisi Akande, and Governor Babajide Sanwa-Olu, had held meetings last weekend to find a way out of the crisis.
It was gathered that part of the consideration being made was for both Obasa and Meranda to step aside for a new Speaker for another member from the Lagos West caucus.
