By Uche Onyeali
Lawmaker representing Agege Constituency 1 in the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa has been re-elected as Speaker of the 40-member Assembly.
Obasa, who was initially impeached by the Lagos lawmakers on on January 13, 2025, was however re-elected on Monday, March 3, 2025, following the resignation of Hon. Mojisola Meranda, who replaced him during the crisis in the Assembly.
The now speaker was impeached as a result of the leadership tussle that assailed the Lagos Assembly in the last seven weeks.
Meranda, who announced her resignation at plenary on Monday, said she had to make a personal sacrifice to protect the legislative institution.
Following Meranda’s resignation, her deputy Mojeed Fatai also stepped from his position.
Obasa’s re-election followed the nomination by a former majority leader and member representing Eti-Osa Constituency 1 in the Lagos Assembly, Noheem Adams.
Obasa subsequently took the oath of office as the new speaker of the Lagos seven weeks after his removal.
He, who was first elected into the Assembly in 2007, emerged as speaker in June 2015 before his removal in January 2025.
Meanwhile , on January 25, 2025, Obasa vehemently rejected his removal and insisted that he remained the speaker until the right thing was done.
He faulted the militarisation of the Assembly complex during the impeachment process, claiming that his removal as speaker took place in his absence, when he was out of Nigeria.
However, 36 lawmakers loyal to Meranda insisted that Obasa’s removal was final.
On February 17, 2025, tempers flared at the Assembly Complex when security agents and some legislative workers clashed over the presence of the former in the hallowed chambers.
Thereafter, 36 of the lawmakers passed a vote of confidence in Meranda and adjourned sitting indefinitely.
On February 27, 2025, Obasa showed up at the Assembly Complex and was chaperoned by a retinue of armed, stern-looking uniformed security operatives as he walked into the hallowed chambers. Last Thursday’s appearance was Obasa’s first in the Assembly since his removal as Lagos speaker on Monday, January 13, 2025.
Obasa insisted that he remained the speaker of the House despite protests by his colleagues who rejected his leadership and pledged loyalty to Meranda.
The re-emergence of Obasa and Meranda now back at her former position as deputy speaker, is believed to have ended the months of leadership tussle in the Lagos House of Assembly.
