Obasa, Meranda set to resign today as new Lagos Speaker emerges Wednesday
Barring last minute change of decision, the embattled speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly will return today and properly resign as the Speaker of the Assembly.
In the same vein, Mojisola Meranda will also tender her resignation letter and returned to her former position as Deputy Speaker for a new Speaker to emerge from the Lagos West.
This was the decision of the Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC), the apex ruling body of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on how to end the lingering leadership tussle in the House of Assembly.
The council also resolved that a new Speaker would be chosen from Lagos West and will be announced on Wednesday.
This resolution follows a series of political upheavals in the Assembly. Last week, Obasa staged a return with four lawmakers to conduct a controversial plenary session, after suing his colleagues in court over his removal. The legal battle has since drawn in 35 lawmakers, who appeared at the Ikeja High Court for a hearing that has now been adjourned to March 7, 2025.
Speaking on the crisis in a recent interview with newsmen, GAC Chairman Prince Tajudeen Olusi emphasised that the lawmakers lacked the authority to unilaterally remove a Speaker without the party’s approval. “The removal of Obasa was solely the decision of the lawmakers, without consulting the All Progressives Congress (APC) or the GAC,” Olusi stated during a media briefing at his Lagos residence.
He clarified that the GAC was neither behind Obasa’s impeachment nor consulted beforehand. “We read about it like everyone else. The lawmakers acted independently without informing the party or the GAC,” he said.
The GAC has since invited all involved lawmakers to present their grievances but criticised their failure to engage the party before taking drastic steps. “It is for the party to decide. The lawmakers have no absolute power to remove and install their leaders,” Olusi insisted.
To address the impasse, the APC has formed a high-powered committee led by Chief Bisi Akande. Other key members include former Ogun State Governor Aremo Olusegun Osoba, former APC National Vice Chairman (South-West) Chief Pius Akinyelure, and other prominent figures, who are engaging all stakeholders, including Obasa and Meranda, to reach a resolution.
According to Olusi, the following resolutions were reached at the GAC meeting:
Mojisola Meranda is to resign by tomorrow (Monday).
Mudashiru Obasa is to return and resign as well.
Both resignation letters must reach the GAC by Wednesday.
The GAC will announce a new Speaker from Lagos West on Wednesday.
Olusi downplayed reports of divisions within the GAC, stating that dissenting views from some members did not represent the council’s official position. He assured that the party’s internal dispute resolution mechanisms were in place and urged patience as the crisis is being managed.
“This issue will be resolved very soon. Disputes and differences are part of life, but we have established ways to settle them within the party,” Olusi assured.
With both Obasa and Meranda expected to step down today, all eyes are now on the GAC’s next move as Lagos navigates its latest political drama.
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