There are strong indications that the camp of the embattled former Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, is making fresh moves to unseat the incumbent Speaker, Mojisola Meranda.
The latest indications emerged over the weekend when an insider revealed to Vanguard that, after a series of failed attempts since Meranda’s emergence on January 13, 2025, new strategies are being explored to reinstate Obasa.
According to the source, the current plan is to elect a lawmaker from the Lagos West Senatorial District, preferably from Ikeja, following the refusal of an earlier preferred candidate from Ifako-Ijaiye. Many lawmakers have reportedly reaffirmed their loyalty to Meranda, complicating the move.
Some All Progressives Congress leaders, believed to be sympathetic to Obasa, are allegedly backing a proxy candidate from Ikeja who would, after a short period, step down to facilitate Obasa’s return. Obasa, in turn, is expected to resign in favour of another popular candidate.
Despite these reported maneuvers, lawmakers in the Assembly have continued to express unwavering support for Meranda.
“Why is no one focusing on the role of Abuja in trying to reinstate him, even with all the infractions, and behaving like the elected members must get clearance from Abuja, especially at this stage of our democracy? The matter is being unnecessarily overflogged,” an APC chieftain, who spoke anonymously, lamented.
“They even tried to install a proxy to bring him back in a few months. Someone making deductions from the allowances of staff, even junior staff, and his colleagues. They behave like they benefit from his negative behavior.”
Meanwhile, political commentator Benjamin Mokwunye, in his weekend article titled *Time to Move On*, weighed in on the controversy.
“There are indications that, in one form or another, the Governance (or Governor’s) Advisory Council was involved in the removal, perhaps even sanctioning it.
“The council may be an extra-constitutional body, but it has remained influential since it was set up under the Bola Tinubu governorship.
“Soon after Obasa was unseated, his successor, Mojisola Meranda, visited the GAC and received their blessing. Their assent, as well as the visit, should have been more nuanced, lest many analysts begin to squirm over the role of the council, even believing erroneously that it was behind the putsch.
“But since the mistake was made, the GAC and the Assembly have battled to sustain the action the state’s lawmakers took against Obasa.
“It has turned out that a few members of the GAC, perhaps three or four out of about 24, have balked at the former speaker’s removal. But regardless of the stridency of their voices and protests, they have been unable to give traction to their reservations.
“There are speculations about APC hierarchs wanting to return Obasa to his seat, but no one is sure the rumours are not just amateur name-dropping or a red herring.
“The procedure adopted by the lawmakers to remove Obasa was democratic. His removal over alleged financial misappropriation, misconduct, and high-handedness cannot be downplayed.
“Indeed, the lawmakers could even remove him if they happened to take a dislike to him at any time and at any point. It is unclear what role the GAC played in the removal beyond merely asserting it.
“If the party and its hierarchs begin to nitpick over such removals, ignoring the sensibilities of the lawmakers and overplaying their hands, they risk alienating the rank and file.
“But public analysts and critics observed that while the removal may upset the political permutations of the party, they would be courting disfavor, if not disaster, by insisting on reinstating him.
“If the removal blindsided them, they must find intelligent and democratic ways of closing ranks and regaining control of the party and the legislature.
“Obasa makes it hard for party leaders and members to defend or back him. Regardless of his misunderstanding with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, his response to the governor’s budget presentation on November 21 exhibited poor judgement and a lack of grace and understanding.
“It is uncertain whether party leaders looked deeper than the surface of his leadership, but the near unanimity of opinion against him by most of his colleagues, past and present, speaks to the poor choice they made of him when they first elected him speaker nearly 10 years ago.
“The GAC and the party must now move beyond Obasa. Their speakership choices have not always been flawless, as evidenced by their election and sustenance of the former speaker.
“It is disturbing that the GAC and the party have hemmed and hawed over a fairly straightforward matter. Mr Sanwo-Olu himself has kept discreetly silent so as not to be accused of having a hand in the removal of his combative nemesis.”
Meanwhile, Lagos lawmakers have praised President Bola Tinubu’s administration, highlighting its achievements during a plenary session last Friday.
During the session, the lawmakers lauded Tinubu’s leadership, noting that he took office at a critical time when Nigerians faced socio-economic uncertainty before the 2023 elections.
Raising the motion, Tobun Abiodun (Epe I) stated that Tinubu’s policies had already begun yielding positive results in less than two years in office.
“This is further reflected in the current continuous strength of the Naira. Currently, the policies are yielding positive results, and the Gross Domestic Product has increased. The value of the Naira is gradually gaining strength.
“There is no more fuel scarcity anymore in the country. We need to encourage the Federal Government to continue on the good pedestrian it started two years ago,” Tobun said.
The Majority Leader of the House, Adewale Temitope (Ifako-Ijaiye I), noted that Tinubu had demonstrated preparedness before assuming office.
According to him, the Federal Government under Tinubu has consistently met Nigerians’ expectations, pointing to operational refineries that have helped reduce the price of Premium Motor Spirit.
He also praised Tinubu as a true democrat who had made significant sacrifices to ensure the continued strength of the ruling APC in both Lagos and across the country.
For his part, Gbolahan Yishawu (Eti Osa II) commended the President for his efforts in combating insecurity and reducing inflation.
Aro Moshood (Ikorodu II) also lauded Tinubu’s achievements, particularly his commitment to increasing the minimum wage and attracting over $40 million in investments.
Speaker Mojisola Meranda expressed confidence in Tinubu’s leadership, stating that the President was committed to meeting Nigerians’ aspirations.
“I know President Tinubu will take us to the Promised Land. When he started, it was rough, but it is becoming obvious that the policies are yielding results.
“This is a positive result happening within the short time Tinubu came into power. Tinubu’s investment in the security architecture is also yielding results as we have insecurity reducing,” she said.
Meranda subsequently directed the Acting Clerk of the House, Abubakar Ottun, to send a commendation letter to the President, acknowledging the positive impact of his policies.
The Assembly is set to reconvene on Monday at 11 a.m. as further developments unfold.
