Mudashiru Obasa has returned as the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly after a leadership tussle that lasted nearly 50 days. The Assembly officially reinstated him on Monday, marking the end of Mojisola Meranda’s 49-day tenure as Speaker.
The resolution came after intense negotiations led by former governors Bisi Akande and Olusegun Osoba, who were drafted by President Bola Tinubu to mediate the crisis. The crisis began on January 13, 2025, when over 30 lawmakers removed Obasa while he was in the United States and replaced him with his then-deputy, Meranda. Obasa rejected the move and took legal action to challenge it.
At the plenary session on Monday, Meranda formally resigned, along with other principal officers who were elected under her leadership, including Deputy Speaker Mojeed Fatai and Chief Whip Okanlawon Sani.
In an emotional speech, Meranda said her decision was for the greater good of democracy and to prevent further division in the Assembly.
She said, “I have made a personal sacrifice to resolve the leadership crisis rocking the Lagos State House of Assembly,” she said. “I am not a quitter, but I took this bold decision to save this legislative institution from unnecessary conflict and embarrassment.”
Meranda, the first female Speaker in the history of the Assembly, emphasized her loyalty to the All Progressives Congress (APC), saying, “The party is supreme.”
After taking the oath of office again, Obasa promised to prioritize the interests of Lagos residents and thanked the APC leaders for their intervention.
He said, “We want to assure Lagosians that we are determined to serve their interests and make laws for the progress of the state,” he said. “The Lagos State House of Assembly is a house of integrity, and we have the internal mechanisms to resolve issues in the interest of the institution and our party.”
Obasa then adjourned the plenary indefinitely.
Before the mediation, a key resolution proposed by the Akande-led panel was for both Obasa and Meranda to step down to allow a new leader to emerge. However, it remains uncertain if Obasa will follow through with this agreement.
Chief Muraina Taiwo, a member of the Governance Advisory Council (GAC), stated that Obasa’s resignation is now a personal decision.
“If he chooses to resign tomorrow, fine. If he insists on staying, it’s up to him,” he said. “For now, the party supports his return as Speaker.”
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Similarly, Lagos APC Chairman Cornelius Ojelabi said the party prioritized restoring peace in the Assembly. “That’s where we resolved it for now,” he said when asked if Obasa would still resign.
Obasa had filed a lawsuit in February against the Assembly and Meranda, challenging the legality of his removal. His lawyer, Chief Afolabi Fashanu (SAN), said Obasa has yet to decide whether to withdraw the case.
Fashanu said,”Withdrawing the case is at his discretion. We will have a meeting with him soon to discuss how to proceed.”
Several lawmakers commended Meranda for her 49 days in office and her willingness to step down.
Lawmaker Temitope Adewale, “You have restored the spirit of friendship and loyalty in this House. This is not the end; this is Asiwaju’s House, and things will change for the better.”
Another lawmaker, Tobun Abiodun, said, “We are politicians, and in politics, the party is supreme. Madam Speaker, I pray for you—may God be with you.”
Desmond Elliot, representing Surulere, was visibly emotional and declined to speak.
Despite stepping down, Meranda remains a respected member of the Assembly and now serves as the Deputy Speaker.
Security was heightened around the Lagos State House of Assembly on Monday, with police officers, Lagos Neighbourhood Security Corps personnel, and operatives of the Department of State Services stationed at strategic points.
Journalists were initially denied access to the complex but were later allowed entry around 1 p.m.
In a statement, APC spokesperson Seye Oladejo congratulated Lagosians and APC members on the peaceful resolution of the crisis.
He said, “As a democratic party, we refrained from interfering in the affairs of the legislature. But when the conflict persisted, the House deferred to the party for wise counsel, and we proffered practical solutions in the best interest of the state.”
With Obasa back in power, the political tension in the Assembly appears to have eased, but whether he will step down as earlier proposed remains a matter of speculation.