The leadership crisis in the Lagos State House of Assembly deepened on Thursday as Mudashiru Obasa, who was removed as Speaker in January, made a dramatic return to the Assembly complex. His unexpected reappearance, accompanied by security personnel, has thrown the legislative house into further confusion, sparking outrage among lawmakers and political stakeholders.
Obasa was removed from office on January 13, 2025, when 36 out of the 40 lawmakers voted to replace him with Mojisola Meranda, the former Deputy Speaker. However, in a surprising turn of events, Obasa arrived at the Assembly complex around 9 a.m. on Thursday and proceeded directly to the Speaker’s office, leading to speculation that he was attempting to reclaim his position.
Confusion Over Security Withdrawals and Restorations
The situation took another twist as security personnel attached to Speaker Meranda were abruptly withdrawn, fueling suspicions that the move was orchestrated to pave the way for Obasa’s return. Later in the evening, the Lagos State Police Command confirmed that Meranda’s security detail had been restored, citing an ongoing security personnel audit as the reason for the temporary withdrawal.
Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Moshood Jimoh, addressed the controversy, stating that Obasa had applied for security protection due to alleged threats to his life. “There was an application from Hon. Mudashiru Obasa on threats to his life and that of his family, and it was on that basis that police personnel were assigned to him for protection only,” Jimoh said.
The police, however, distanced themselves from the leadership tussle, emphasizing their neutrality. “We are not aware of, nor involved in, how or when the office of the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly was broken into,” said CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, the Lagos Police Command spokesperson.
Lawmakers Reject Obasa’s Return
Following Obasa’s reappearance, 36 lawmakers held a press conference to express their displeasure. Addressing journalists, Assembly spokesperson Olukayode Ogundipe described the development as shocking and embarrassing.
“We are shocked to see what is happening today. We are still expecting the leadership of our party to come and explain where we went wrong,” Ogundipe said.
He accused the party leadership of sidelining the lawmakers in resolving the crisis, adding, “We are not against the leadership’s decision, but they should call us and tell us to our faces, not allow us to hear rumors. What we are seeing today is an embarrassment.”
As tensions escalated, the lawmakers chanted, “We hereby reject Obasa! We reject him in totality!”
Obasa Insists He Remains Speaker
Despite the overwhelming opposition from his colleagues, Obasa maintained that he was still the Speaker of the House, arguing that due process was not followed in his removal.
“I have never been removed. There is nothing like impeachment. Impeachment or removal, or whatever it is called, is undemocratic and unconstitutional unless due process is followed,” Obasa told journalists at the Assembly complex.
During an interview on TVC, he dismissed rumors that he had resigned and insisted that he was still in charge. “I still remain the Speaker of the Assembly. If we make laws for the people of Lagos, then we should be able to respect our laws and rules as well,” he said.
He also responded to lawmakers’ show of confidence in Meranda, saying, “She has been my deputy for almost 10 years. If my colleagues pass a vote of confidence in her, they have not done anything wrong. It has happened to me repeatedly in this Assembly.”
What’s Next for the Lagos Assembly?
Obasa’s unexpected return has raised questions about the resolution efforts by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Before Thursday’s events, key party leaders, including former governors Bisi Akande and Olusegun Osoba, alongside Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, had met with lawmakers in an attempt to mediate the crisis. Reports suggested that a deal was struck for both Obasa and Meranda to step down, allowing a new Speaker from Lagos West Senatorial District to emerge.
However, Obasa’s reappearance indicates that the crisis is far from over. With lawmakers rejecting his return and the police maintaining neutrality, the political future of the Lagos Assembly remains uncertain. The coming days will likely see intensified negotiations—or further escalations—in this high-stakes power struggle.
