The reinstated Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, met with his colleagues on Tuesday in a bid to reconcile following the leadership crisis that unfolded last week. The meeting, held at the Assembly complex in Alausa, Ikeja, came after Obasa was reelected as Speaker on Monday, following the resignation of Mojisola Meranda, who had briefly served in the role.
Meranda, who had assumed the Speakership on January 13, 2025, after Obasa’s removal, resigned during Monday’s plenary and was reappointed as Deputy Speaker, a position she held before her promotion. Her tenure as Speaker lasted 49 days.
The reelection of Obasa was the result of a series of interventions from prominent figures in the All Progressives Congress (APC), including former governors Bisi Akande and Aremo Olusegun Osoba. Despite speculation that Obasa might resign, a source close to him confirmed that he would not be stepping down, and the APC’s Lagos State Chairman, Cornelius Ojelabi, also dismissed rumors of his resignation.
However, the Tuesday meeting was met with mixed reactions among lawmakers. Some attendees, who spoke on condition of anonymity, suggested that the meeting was not primarily aimed at reconciling the factions but rather served as an update on current issues facing the Assembly.
One lawmaker recounted the frustrations over the late start of the meeting, which was scheduled for 1 p.m. but did not commence until 2:30 p.m. The lawmaker expressed that there was no apology for the delay, and the meeting proceeded without addressing the underlying discontent within the Assembly.
“First, one of the issues we raised as a reason for his removal happened again. A meeting scheduled for 1 p.m. didn’t hold until 2:30 p.m. We were all kept waiting, and when he arrived, there was no apology for the late commencement of the meeting,” the lawmaker said. “He went straight into the agenda after acknowledging that we were still upset about the forced reappointment, and none of us had an opportunity to contribute.”
Another lawmaker confirmed that the meeting was mostly focused on legal matters, specifically the case brought against the Assembly by the suspended Clerk, Olalekan Onafeko, which is scheduled to be heard on Thursday. The lawmakers expressed concern over the involvement of the Department of State Services (DSS) in the matter, particularly regarding the arrest of some colleagues.
The lawmaker added, “Aside from these matters, nothing else was discussed. The meeting was short-lived.”
Despite the ongoing tension, the lawmakers appeared to acknowledge that Obasa’s return to the Speakership was influenced by respect for figures like Bisi Akande and Osoba, even if many were not personally in favor of his reinstatement. “It wasn’t a selfless decision; it was done because of our respect for leaders like Akande and Osoba,” one lawmaker explained.
There remains significant resentment within the Assembly, and it is unclear whether unity can be restored. One lawmaker candidly stated that the mood in the House was still “bitter,” and it would be difficult for the legislature to function as it once did.
Meanwhile, Obasa’s camp continues efforts to unite the lawmakers, with one source stating that meetings have been ongoing to ensure cooperation. Obasa is also pushing for the return of Olalekan Onafeko as the Clerk of the House, despite resistance from some lawmakers who have yet to reconcile with the suspended Clerk’s reinstatement.
Onafeko, who was removed from his position on January 13 after Obasa’s ousting, has filed a lawsuit against the Assembly and his successor, Ottun Babatunde, seeking redress. However, Ottun was acting as Clerk during Monday’s plenary, where Obasa was reelected. In an interview with journalists, Onafeko expressed his openness to a political resolution but emphasized that his main concern was the integrity of the institution.
The ongoing power struggle within the Lagos State House of Assembly highlights the complex interplay between political influence and legal issues, and it remains to be seen whether a resolution can be reached that will restore stability to the legislature.
