Since January 13, 2025, the Lagos State House of Assembly has been embroiled in intense drama, beginning with the abrupt removal of Speaker Mudashiru Obasa.
Political analysts speculated that the removal was linked to Obasa’s ambition to succeed Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, though this remains unconfirmed.
Despite the uncertainties surrounding the reasons for his ouster, Obasa’s removal while he was away has dramatically reshaped Lagos’ political landscape, sparking widespread debates on governance, accountability, and security.
As each new development unfolds, the situation continues to captivate the attention of both the public and political analysts, shedding light on the evolving power dynamics within the state.
Obasa, who had served as Speaker for over a decade and represented Agege Constituency 1, was replaced by Mojisola Meranda, who made history as the first female speaker of the Lagos House of Assembly.
However, since Meranda, representing Apapa Constituency 1, assumed office, Obasa has refused to step down, continuing to address himself as the legitimate Speaker.
The New Daily Prime learned that Obasa’s long tenure was largely due to his strong backing from President Bola Tinubu. His loyalty to the president and his role in holding governors accountable were key to his continued leadership.
However, the political landscape shifted when it became clear that President Tinubu, reportedly dissatisfied with Obasa and unwilling to meet with him, gave the signal to the Lagos leadership to move forward with his removal—though this decision appears to have been a miscalculation.
During Tinubu’s visit to Lagos over the Christmas holidays, the Governors’ Advisory Council (GAC) presented several complaints about Obasa.
Reports indicate that the leadership of the Governance Advisory Council (GAC) of the Lagos APC was unable to meet with President Tinubu in person, as he was occupied with state matters, including preparations for an official visit to France.
According to sources, the lawmakers did not seek the President’s approval before proceeding with Obasa’s removal.
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Insiders revealed that Tinubu was caught off guard by the decision, finding it surprising that such a major political move was made without his involvement and that several GAC members backed it.
However, it was reported that some members of the Assembly went to Abuja to meet with President Tinubu over the leadership crisis at the assembly.
Although it remains unclear whether the GAC eventually met with Tinubu, it’s gathered that on February 3, members of the GAC and the Lagos State House of Assembly convened at Lagos House Marina to deliberate on Assembly-related matters.
The meeting had in attendance Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Deputy Governor Kadri Hamzat, GAC leader Tajudeen Olusi, and other key members.
While the official agenda was not disclosed, discussions likely included developments surrounding Obasa’s removal.
While some members of the GAC viewed Obasa’s removal as illegal, he maintained that his removal was unlawful, claiming that a fake mace was used to install Meranda as Speaker.
Following his impeachment, Meranda and her loyal lawmakers met with members of the GAC. After their meeting at the Lagos House in Marina, Meranda expressed her desire for the council’s approval and blessings for her new role, signaling the continued influence of the GAC in the state’s political affairs.
However, Obasa alleged that police intimidation played a part in his ousting, which he argued is a common tactic in Nigerian politics.
Although he has not gone to court to stop his self-proclamation as Speaker, he has openly challenged the legality of the process and vowed to continue fighting, citing similar acts of defiance against court orders in the past.
Upon his return to Lagos after being away during the impeachment, Obasa addressed a crowd of supporters at his official residence in GRA, Ikeja, declaring his removal null and void.
He maintained that the removal had not followed due process. His declaration was met with strong opposition from lawmakers, who urged residents to ignore his claims and warned him not to escalate tensions further.
Obasa continues to assert that a fake mace was used in his removal, alleging that hundreds of policemen invaded the Assembly on the day of his ousting to intimidate his supporters.
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He further claimed that the police also invaded his official residence, preventing his family from leaving the house. Obasa pointed out that in previous instances, speaker removals were conducted in the presence of the Speaker without police interference.
Despite the opposition, Obasa has vowed to return as Speaker and challenge his removal in court, leaving the question of who the legitimate Speaker is still unresolved.
Bid to return
In his bid to return as Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa has dragged the Lagos State House of Assembly and Speaker Mojisola Meranda to the Lagos State High Court in Ikeja, challenging the legality of his impeachment.
The lawsuit, filed on February 12, 2025, is yet to be assigned to a judge, but it demands that the court declare his removal unlawful, arguing that his colleagues acted improperly by impeaching him while the Assembly was on recess.
Obasa, who was out of the country at the time of his removal, insists that the removal violated his rights. Through his lawyer, Afolabi Fashanu, Obasa has requested that the court expedite the hearing of the case and set a swift date for the proceedings.
He also called for a reduction in the time allowed for the defendants to file counter-affidavits or written addresses to seven days after the hearing, with a three-day deadline for the plaintiff to respond on points of law.
The application, which raises nine key points, focuses on interpreting various sections of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), and the Rules and Standing Orders of the State House of Assembly.
Obasa is challenging the constitutionality of the Assembly’s actions during its recess, arguing that the House should not have conducted proceedings without the Speaker’s authorization or delegation of authority.
The former Speaker emphasised that public interest requires a quick resolution of the case to avoid disruptions in the state’s legislative activities.
He argued that the court must urgently rule on the legality of the Assembly’s current leadership, claiming that the ongoing leadership violates both constitutional and legislative rules. Obasa further believes that the court has the inherent power to grant expedited hearings and impose time limits on the proceedings.
Just two days after filing the lawsuit, and with the court date yet to be set, the situation took a new turn on Monday, intensifying the already volatile political atmosphere surrounding the House of Assembly.
Drama
The events on Monday unfolded like a political thriller, as the Department of State Services (DSS) stormed the Lagos State House of Assembly complex, attempting to seal off the entire building, including the office of Speaker Mojisola Meranda.
However, Assembly workers and lawmakers quickly intervened, preventing the DSS officers from carrying out their orders. In a viral video obtained by this newspaper, some lawmakers stood their ground against the DSS, which struggled to gain entrance into the Assembly.
Eventually, they accessed the Assembly and passed a vote of confidence in the Speaker.
Sources have revealed that the DSS intervention stemmed from a leadership crisis within the Assembly. On February 14, 2025, the acting Clerk of the House, Abubakar Ottun, issued a letter warning that Obasa’s potential return to office could pose a significant security threat to the Assembly and its members.
READ ALSO: Sacked Lagos Speaker, Obasa sue Meranda, Lagos Assembly, seeks reinstatement
In response to mounting criticism of the DSS invasion, the agency clarified that the House had requested the Department’s intervention to bolster security around the Assembly complex in anticipation of February 18, 2025.
The letter highlighted that the impeached Speaker was reportedly planning to resume his position, prompting the Assembly to urge the DSS to deploy operatives from February 16 onward to enforce strict access control within and around the premises.
The letter signed by Acting Clark of the House, A.T.B Ottun read: “I wish to bring to your attention a pressing matter that requires immediate action. The impeached Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly plans to resume office on the 18th of February, 2025 as the speaker, posing a potential security threat to the Assembly and its members.
“In light of this situation, we kindly request that you take necessary measures to fortify the security of the Assembly premises with effect from Sunday 16th February, 2025 by increasing the presence of your Men and as well observe a strict access control within and outside the Assembly premises till further notice.”
With the February 18 deadline looming and unresolved security concerns, the drama shows no signs of abating. The situation remains fluid, particularly with Obasa’s lawsuit yet to be assigned a hearing date, leaving political tension hanging in the balance.
