President Bola Tinubu has reportedly accepted the decision of the Lagos State House of Assembly to impeach former Speaker Mudashiru Obasa and install Mojisola Meranda as his replacement, following intense lobbying by key stakeholders in the state.
According to Punch, despite attempts by members of the Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC) to meet with Tinubu in Abuja to discuss the crisis, the president departed for France on a private visit before heading to Ethiopia for the African Union (AU) Summit, leaving the matter unresolved at the federal level.
With Tinubu’s tacit approval, the Lagos State House of Assembly is set to reconvene today, Thursday, with Meranda presiding as Speaker, solidifying her leadership despite earlier party divisions.
The impeachment of Obasa, carried out on January 13, 2025, by 32 out of 40 lawmakers over allegations of financial misappropriation, misconduct, and high-handedness, has deepened divisions within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos. While some members of the GAC and APC leadership initially opposed the move, others warned against actions that could undermine the legislature’s credibility and damage the party’s electoral prospects.
A faction within the party had pushed for either Obasa’s reinstatement or his impeachment being commuted to a resignation. Others suggested that Meranda step down because she hails from Lagos Central, like Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to allow a lawmaker from Lagos West to assume the speakership.
However, 20 lawmakers from Lagos West rejected this compromise, insisting that Meranda’s election must stand to preserve legislative independence and ensure the smooth functioning of the Assembly.
The GAC, led by Pa Tajudeen Olusi, sent a delegation to Abuja to present the Assembly’s resolution to Tinubu. However, sources indicate that the meeting did not take place in person. Instead, the president was briefed over the phone and reportedly agreed to let the decision stand, putting an end to efforts to overturn Meranda’s speakership.
This outcome has relieved Governor Sanwo-Olu, who had been caught in the middle of the political wrangling. A close associate of the governor noted that the prolonged crisis had become a major distraction from pressing state matters.
