The impeachment of Mudashiru Obasa as the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly on January 13, 2025, has continued to cause political turmoil with reverberation within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State.
The turmoil has been evident following the division within the Governance Advisory Council (GAC), which is the pivotal advisory body within the Lagos State chapter of the APC.
Obasa was removed from his position amid allegations of gross misconduct, abuse of office, and financial misappropriations.
He was immediately replaced after an election which saw Mojisola Meranda emerge as Speaker.
However, Obasa has contested his removal, claiming it was not constitutional.
Some members of the GAC, like Senator Anthony Adefuye, have publicly argued that Obasa was illegally removed.
Adefuye, who spoke with the press, maintained that: “What he(Obasa) is saying is that he was illegally removed and the procedure was faulty, and I agree with him.”
Similarly, another member of the GAC, Chief Muraina Taiwo, faulted the process, leading to the removal of Mudashiru Obasa as Speaker of the state House of Assembly.
Taiwo, in a statement titled, ‘My Take on the Ongoing Imbroglio at the Lagos State House of Assembly,’ said Obasa’s removal was illegal and a disrespect to the party leadership.
Part of the statement reads: “The act of the lawmakers is illegal. It shows total disregard and clear disrespect for leadership.
“The GAC leadership is split over the matter, but we will all defer to our de facto leader, the President of Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to resolve the crisis.”
However, other members of the GAC including Senator Musliu Obanikoro, have maintained that the impeachment of Obasa was carried out within the confines of the law.
Also, members of the Lagos State House of Assembly have declared that they stand by their decision to impeach Obasa.
Issuing a statement, Ogundipe Olukayode, representing Oshodi-Isolo Constituency II, on behalf of the majority members of the house said: “It is imperative to clarify that over 2/3 of the members of the Lagos State House of Assembly are solidly united behind the new Speaker, Rt Hon Mojisola Lasbat Meranda, therefore we stood by the decision taken on the 13th of January where Rt Hon Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa was impeached and we shall defend our positions to the latter.”
Following the division, reports emerged that the lawmakers of the Lagos State House of Assembly did not carry the GAC along during the process of Obasa’s impeachment.
The marathon meetings between the GAC and Assembly members have continued to fuel speculations over the possibility of reinstating Obasa, even as many consider it a forgone issue.
It was gathered that during the meetings, the GAC and the Lagos Assembly lawmakers discussed ways to find amicable resolutions to the issues within the party, particularly in the light of President Bola Tinubu’s alleged support for the restoration of the Lagos State House of Assembly to its previous status.
