On Wednesday, President Bola Tinubu convened a confidential meeting with members of the Lagos State House of Assembly at the State House in Abuja, aiming to address ongoing leadership tensions. Among those in attendance were Speaker Mudashiru Obasa and Deputy Speaker Mojisola Meranda. The legislators arrived in two white buses, following Deputy Speaker Meranda, with Speaker Obasa arriving separately shortly afterward.
This meeting was crucial in light of the leadership crisis that had been troubling the Assembly, intending to ease friction and restore harmony. After the closed-door discussions, the lawmakers were visibly elated, showing their support for the president with spirited chants of “On your mandate we shall stand” as he returned to his office.
According to one legislator who spoke with Channels TV, the issues at hand have been resolved, although there’s still an anticipation for an official statement to divulge the specifics of the discussions.
The leadership crisis within the Lagos State House of Assembly reached a boiling point on January 13, 2025, when Speaker Obasa was removed from his position by more than two-thirds of the 40-member House due to allegations of misconduct. Deputy Speaker Mojisola Meranda was swiftly elected as the new Speaker, marking a historical moment as the first female to lead the legislative wing in the South-West region.
Despite Obasa’s rejection of his removal, asserting it was carried out in his absence while abroad, a majority of legislators remained steadfast in their decision. However, after a period of intense political negotiation, Obasa was reinstated as Speaker on March 3, following Meranda’s resignation. Meranda, representing Apapa Constituency I, then reassumed her role as Deputy Speaker.
Her leadership during her tenure was lauded by lawmakers for promoting peace and demonstrating both strength and humility in adhering to the principles of the All Progressives Congress (APC). With President Tinubu’s intervention, there is optimism among stakeholders that the crisis has been finally resolved, although a formal statement detailing the resolutions is still awaited.
