The Lagos State House of Assembly has been thrown into chaos after ousted Speaker Mudashiru Obasa forcefully resumed office on Thursday, despite being removed on January 13, 2025. Obasa’s unexpected return, escorted by heavily armed security personnel, created a tense atmosphere, especially since current Speaker Mojisola Meranda was not present.
At around 11:30 AM, Obasa arrived at the Assembly complex, which is currently on an indefinite recess. He then forcibly opened the doors to the Speaker’s office and declared his resumption as the parliament’s leader, stating, “I’ve resumed, and I remain the Speaker of the Assembly.”
This development comes after the controversial withdrawal of security details assigned to Speaker Meranda, as ordered by the Inspector General of Police (IGP). An aide to Meranda confirmed the withdrawal of police and SSS operatives, leaving her “exposed to threats amid the ongoing speaker-ship crisis.”
The aide appealed to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the state’s Chief Security Officer, to intervene and prevent a potential breakdown of law and order. Meanwhile, Olalekan Onafeko, the former and suspended Clerk of the House, attempted to resume his duties on Wednesday but was turned away by security personnel.
Onafeko, who was removed alongside Obasa, arrived with his lawyer and security detail, attempting to reclaim his office. However, he was met with resistance from Assembly staff, who jeered at him as he was escorted out. The Assembly management condemned Onafeko’s “unauthorized entry” in a statement.
The ongoing crisis originated from the January 13th removal of Obasa, who was ousted by 32 out of 40 Assembly members. The allegations against him included “poor leadership style, perpetual lateness to legislative sections and plenary, high-handedness and disregard for colleague lawmakers and the executive.”
Despite interventions from President Bola Tinubu, the Governance Advisory Council (GAC), Governor Sanwo-Olu, and the All Progressives Congress (APC), efforts to resolve the leadership dispute have been unsuccessful. Meetings involving APC bigwigs were held last weekend to address the crisis, but no resolution was reached.
Reports indicate that both Obasa and Meranda are being considered to step aside for a new Speaker, with a member of the Lagos West caucus being favoured. The Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to Meranda, Segun Ajiboye, confirmed Obasa’s arrival and accused him of “breaking into the office.”
As tensions escalate, stakeholders are calling for immediate action to restore order and ensure the safety of Speaker Meranda and the Assembly complex. Chief Muraina Taiwo, a member of the GAC, noted that the party is considering one of the seven lawmakers from Lagos West as the new Speaker ¹.
Leave a comment