The political crisis that appears to be brewing in Lagos State escalated on Saturday following the decision of the ousted Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, to reject his removal.
With Obasa’s statement, two individuals now lay claim to the Speakership of the State Assembly.
A development that President Bola Tinubu allegedly described as a coup, Obasa was removed on January 13, 2025, by 32 out of the 40 lawmakers of the House on allegations of misconduct and other offences
Obasa, representing Agege Constituency I, was first elected to the Lagos Assembly in 2007 and became Speaker in June 2015.
Following his impeachment, Deputy Speaker Mojisola Lasbat Meranda was elected as the new Speaker, becoming the first female to hold the position in the South-West.
Meranda has reportedly met with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, Deputy Governor Femi Hamzat, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and members of the Governance Advisory Council (GAC) in other to solidify her position.
But speaking to his supporters on Saturday after his return to Lagos State, Obasa declared that he remained the speaker of the House despite his removal by the lawmakers.
He said his removal will remain illegal until the process was followed constitutionally.
Obasa also denied informing any leader in Lagos State about nursing a governorship ambition for 2027.
The embattled lawmaker challenged any one to come out if he had approached such person about his alleged plan to succeed Sanwo-Olu.
He said, “In the whole of Lagos State, let any leader come out that I approached him or her that I wanted to be a governor. To impeach a speaker, the Constitution must be followed. I’m not bothered but with that man who alleged that I took part in the removal of former Speaker Jokotade Pelumi, Deputy Speaker, Funmi Tejuosho and suspended lawmakers due process was followed.
“Pelumi was on the floor when he was removed. Likewise, Tejuosho and those that were suspended were in the House and there was no involvement of the police.”
Mudashiru Obasa accused the 32 lawmakers behind his ouster of carrying out the impeachment with a fake mace.