A dramatic power struggle is unfolding within the Lagos State House of Assembly, with fresh maneuvers underway to reinstate Mudashiru Obasa as Speaker, months after his dramatic ousting. Hobnob News has uncovered the intricate web of political intrigue, court battles, and behind-the-scenes negotiations that are shaping the future of the Assembly.
The crisis, which erupted on January 13, 2025, with the removal of Obasa and former Clerk Olalekan Onafeko by 32 lawmakers who installed Mojisola Meranda as the new Speaker, has taken a new twist. Multiple sources close to the Presidency and key political figures reveal that intense efforts are being made to reverse the decision and bring Obasa back to power.
According to these sources, influential members of the Governance Advisory Council (GAC) have been tasked with persuading anti-Obasa lawmakers to shift their allegiance. This move follows the disbandment of a committee led by Bisi Akande, which was reportedly dissolved after its findings suggested that support for Obasa was waning.
“The Bisi Akande committee has been disbanded. The president has reached out to members of GAC who have loyalists or children in the Assembly to insist they work for Obasa’s return as Speaker,” a source told Hobnob News. “For those who do not have children in the Assembly but have other political loyalists in the State Executive Council, they have been mandated to ensure Obasa is returned.”
Meanwhile, Obasa himself is reportedly reaching out to dissenting lawmakers in an attempt to garner their support. However, if these political strategies fail, sources indicate that the Presidency and party leaders are prepared to let the courts decide the fate of the speakership.
“The President is insisting Obasa must return but the Assembly members are also throwing their weight behind Meranda. The two camps do not want to shift grounds. As it is, the court will decide who the Speaker is and you know how judicial process works, it will move from the High Court to Appeal Court and from there, to the Supreme Court; the court will decide,” a source in the presidency revealed.
Obasa has already filed a lawsuit challenging his “unlawful” removal, dragging Meranda, the Assembly, and 36 lawmakers to court. Justice Yetunde Rukayat Pinheiro of the Lagos State High Court, Ikeja, has adjourned the hearing of all pending applications in the lawsuit to March 7.
Amidst this turmoil, the Assembly management has directed all staff and legislative aides to work remotely from home indefinitely, citing the need to “guarantee safety and forestall any unwarranted consequences.” Acting Clerk Babatunde Abubakar issued a memo stating that the move was necessary “pending the resolution of the current leadership crisis.”
“To this end, all categories of staff at the Assembly, LAHASCOM and Legislative Aides are requested to work remotely from home until further notice,” Abubakar said. “Note that this measure has become necessary for safety purposes and officers are enjoined to leave open communication lines as they can be called upon for any assignment whenever the need arises.”
The chairman of GAC in Lagos State, Prince Tajudeen Olusi, has clarified that the council was not involved in Obasa’s removal, stating that the lawmakers acted without consulting the party. “Members of the GAC are not members of the Lagos State House of Assembly to allegedly be behind the removal of Obasa. It can’t be true,” Olusi said.
The ongoing crisis has plunged the Lagos Assembly into uncertainty, with the fate of the speakership hanging in the balance. As political maneuvering and legal battles continue, the Assembly’s ability to function effectively is being tested. Hobnob News will continue to track this developing story.
