Mudashiru Obasa, the impeached speaker of the Lagos House of Assembly, has sprung back to his position.
Obasa who was impeached on Monday, 13 January, 2025 by 32 lawmakers accusing him of gross abuse of office and corruption had held the position for 10 years.
After several meeting with party leader and the intervention of the presidency Obasa has returned as Speaker of the House, after the resignation Mojisola Meranda earlier on Monday, March 2 who was elected to succeed Obasa.
It was rumoured that President Bola Tinubu did not support Obasa’s impeachment by the House and wanted to give him a soft landing, by asking him to resign immediately after assuming office again.
Obasa representing Agege Constituency I was reinstated after Mojisola Meranda, representing Apapa 1 State Constituency had resigned and stepped down from the role with immediate effect.
Meranda was re-elected as Deputy Speaker of the House while Obasa returned as the speaker during Monday’s plenary session.
Recall that the lawmakers accused Obasa of multiple allegations, including poor leadership style, high-handedness, frequent lateness to plenary sessions, abuse of office, and intimidation of colleagues.
However, 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 an emotional 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.
Obasa rejected the process, insisting that the lawmakers did not follow the constitutional procedure in removing him as speaker.
He denied the allegations of corruption brought against him by the lawmakers during his removal, describing the alleged financial misappropriations as “impossible.”
“My status in the House? I believe strongly I am still the speaker until the right thing has been done. If you want to remove me, remove me the proper way and I will not contest it,” Obasa had said while denying the corruption allegations against him.
In a bid to resolve the leadership crisis, notable All Progressives Congress leaders, including former governors of Osun, Ogun, and Lagos states, Bisi Akande, Segun Osoba, and Akinwunmi Ambode, respectively, intervened on the directive of President Bola Tinubu.
After a reconciliation meeting with all lawmakers on Monday, Meranda tendered her resignation alongside other top principal executives.
“This is a notice of resignation as Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly,” Meranda announced during the plenary.
Hon. Noheem Adams of Eti Osa Constituency 1 nominated Obasa.
His nomination was seconded by Hon. Nureni Akinsaya of Mushin constituency.
Obasa’s speaks at plenary
Speaking during the plenary session, he thanked the lawmaker while calling for unity and love.
He said, “We want to assure Lagosians that we have resolved and determined to serve their interest and protect their interest always. Our major responsibility is to represent them and what we have been doing.
“What is happening here today shows that the Lagos State House of Assembly is capable and is a House of integrity. It is a house that internal mechanism to resolve in the interest of the institution and our party.
“Today is not the day for speech making but to celebrate my colleagues and thank them for all they’ve been doing. I am sure we will continue to work together in peace, love and harmony.”
