The crisis rocking the Lagos State House of Assembly has taken a new turn as fresh efforts are being made to reinstate Mudashiru Obasa as Speaker.
Obasa was removed on January 13, 2025, along with the former Clerk of the House, Olalekan Onafeko, by 32 lawmakers, who subsequently elected Mojisola Meranda as the new Speaker.
However, recent developments indicate that top political actors are making overtures to lawmakers to reconsider their stance and restore Obasa to his former position.
According to sources close to the Presidency, members of the Governance Advisory Council (GAC) have been asked to step in and persuade lawmakers to support Obasa’s return.
This move follows the disbandment of the Bisi Akande-led committee, which was initially set up to resolve the crisis. Reports suggest the committee was scrapped after its findings indicated that Obasa had lost the backing of the majority.
A reliable source disclosed:
“The Bisi Akande committee has been disbanded. The President has now reached out to GAC members, urging them to influence their loyalists in the Assembly to reinstate Obasa as Speaker.”
Additionally, those in the State Executive Council with political influence over Assembly members have reportedly been asked to rally support for Obasa’s comeback.
Meanwhile, the former Speaker himself is said to be reaching out to lawmakers individually to mend fences.
With both factions refusing to back down, legal action is now being considered as a potential resolution.
Sources indicate that if political negotiations fail, the courts may ultimately decide the matter.
“The President wants Obasa back, but the lawmakers are firmly behind Meranda. If neither side concedes, the courts will determine the rightful Speaker,” said a source within the Presidency.
Obasa has already taken the matter to court, suing Meranda, the Assembly, and 36 lawmakers over what he described as his “unlawful” removal.
Justice Yetunde Rukayat Pinheiro of the Lagos State High Court has scheduled a hearing on the case for March 7, 2025.
Amid tensions in the House, the Acting Clerk, Babatunde Abubakar, has instructed all staff and legislative aides to work remotely until further notice to prevent disruptions.
In an official memo titled “Amendment to Remote Work Schedule Arrangement,” Abubakar stated that the decision was taken to ensure safety and stability within the Assembly.
“This measure aligns with the directive of the Head of Service and will remain in effect until the leadership crisis is resolved. Officers should remain available for assignments as needed,” the memo read.
This move follows a standoff between Assembly staff and DSS operatives, who had sealed offices and blocked lawmakers from holding plenary sessions.
Meanwhile, Prince Tajudeen Olusi, Chairman of the Governance Advisory Council (GAC), has distanced the group from Obasa’s removal, insisting they were not consulted before the decision was made.
“The GAC was not involved in Obasa’s removal. We only became aware of it after it happened. The lawmakers acted on their own without consulting the party leadership.”
However, he criticized the lawmakers for failing to escalate their grievances earlier, stating that the party should have been allowed to intervene before the crisis reached its current level.
