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HOW LAGOS SPEAKER OBASA TRICKED ASSEMBLY MEMBERS TO ACCEPT HIS RETURN, FAILED TO RESIGN AS AGREED
The Lagos State House of Assembly Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, was expected to return and later resign as part of the agreement to resolve the leadership crisis in the House, a source said on Saturday.
The source said unlike the claim of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Obasa actually agreed to resign after few days as part of conditions for his return to office.
“Many of the Assembly members were tricked into accepting that Obasa will subsequently resign after Meranda, unknown to them that it was just a political gimmick,” he said.
“As soon as he was reelected out of damage control, he adjourned indefinitely, obviously awaiting judgement in the case instituted to legitimise the illegalities.”
The source added that the embattled Speaker’s plan was to railroad the presiding judge handling the case.
A Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja had on March 7 adjourned proceedings in the leadership crisis rocking the state’s House of Assembly until Monday, March 10, 2025.
“That explains why contrary to the pledge to withdraw case, it continued. They already have the judgment written invalidating the proceedings that removed him. All machinery has been put in place towards railroading the judge.
“Upon given the judgment, obviously wrong in law, Obasa will direct no appeal on behalf of the Assembly while Miranda is already out of the way. The import is that he had never been removed while Meranda was never Speaker.
“The further implication is that the removed clerk will equally return contrary to the resistance of his colleagues, and no proceeding that is valid would have removed him. Then the “Oga” will have his way and rejoice. Barring any last minute change of mind, the judgment cannot change.”
Obasa was re-elected as Speaker last Monday following Meranda’s resignation from the position.
He was earlier removed as Speaker after lawmakers accused him of poor leadership, abuse of power, frequent lateness to plenary sessions, and intimidating colleagues.
His reinstatement marks a continuation of his influence in the state’s legislative affairs.
The development has sparked discussions among political observers in Lagos, with many speculating on the implications for the assembly’s leadership.
Meranda had been sworn in as the Deputy Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, moments after she was forced to resign as Speaker under pressure from All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders.
She had announced her resignation during Monday’s plenary session, following intense lobbying by APC power brokers, including President Bola Tinubu, Lagos APC Chairman Cornelius Ojelabi, and Attorney General Lawal Pedro (SAN).
“Just as we know that party decision is supreme, at this point, I take a bow as your Speaker, and I step down as the Speaker of this great House,” Meranda declared in a live broadcast while addressing lawmakers before stepping down.
