The speakership crisis rocking the Lagos State House of Assembly might be resolved soon as the intervention of heavyweights in the All Progressives Congress may be leading to a headway.
The impeached Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa and the current Speaker, Mojisola Meranda, might be stepping aside for another lawmaker to lead the House, DECENCY GLOBAL NEWS learnt.
The development follows the intervention of the APC bigwigs, notably former governors of Osun, Ogun and Lagos states, namely Chief Bisi Akande, Segun Osoba, and Akinwunmi Ambode, respectively, among others.
The high-powered APC delegation was directed by President Bola Tinubu to resolve the political tension at the Lagos Assembly, following the inability of the Governance Advisory Council to find a solution.
The crisis began at the House on January 13, 2025, when about 36 lawmakers removed Obasa as speaker and replaced him with Meranda, the then-deputy speaker.
Over 90 per cent of the lawmakers accused the impeached speaker of poor leadership style, perpetual lateness to legislative sections and plenary, high-handedness and disregard for colleague lawmakers and the executive, especially the governor, abuse of office and privileges, intimidation and oppression of members, misappropriation, among others.
Obasa, who was away in Atlanta, United States, when he was removed, had since faulted his removal and insisted he was still the speaker, even as his colleagues in the House remained adamant.
“My status in the house? I strongly believe I am still the speaker until the right thing has been done. If you want to remove me, remove me the proper way and I will not contest it,” Obasa said while addressing newsmen on Saturday, January 25, 2025.
On Sunday, Osoba, Ambode, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and all the GAC members met at the Governor’s Lodge in Marina over the crisis, to find a lasting solution.
DECENCY GLOBAL NEWS gathered that the meeting lasted till around 7 pm. It was also learnt that the panel earlier met with the lawmakers.
A GAC member, Chief Muraina Taiwo, told DECENCY GLOBAL NEWS about the outcome of the meeting on Monday, noting that one of the seven lawmakers from Lagos West was being considered by the party leaders as the new Speaker.
“The issue will die down soon. Between now and the middle of next week, everything will become clearer. The APC leaders, including Chief Bisi Akande and Chief Olusegun Osoba, came to mediate.
“They will go back to Abuja to brief our leader (Tinubu) how they feel about everything. They are suggesting to Speaker Obasa that he should step down and the other woman (Meranda) to also step down and they will bring in another new person. They are thinking of submitting a few names but all will land at the table of the leader.
“You know the House is working based on seniority, that is, if you’ve spent two years at the House, you’re qualified to hold a higher position than someone in first tenure. So they will go back to Abuja with seven names of the seniors in the House and from Lagos West,” he said.
The GAC member added, “The seven of them are ranking members in Lagos West. They are the ones whose names will be submitted to President Tinubu.”
It was also gathered that party leaders considered it politically and ethically appropriate not to select a speaker from Lagos Central, as it is the same senatorial zone as Governor Sanwo-Olu.
Eyes on Setonji
Details of the seven lawmakers from Lagos West have not been disclosed, but sources who spoke to our correspondent said David Setonji is being considered based on his experience and seniority.
A top source in the Lagos APC, when asked who is being considered as the new Speaker, said, “Setonji from Badagry is being considered among them. He is the one who is not like a first-timer among those in the West.”
Born in 1959, Setonji represents Badagry Constituency II and has been in the House since 2015. He is the current Chief Whip of the House, appointed by Meranda.
A master’s degree holder, Setonji is a former chairman of the Nigerian Institution of Civil Engineers, Lagos State chapter. He was previously a deputy chief whip.
Obasa may withdraw suit
Another top source in the Lagos APC who was privy to the meeting but did not want to be named confirmed to DECENCY GLOBAL NEWS on Monday that Meranda and Obasa would be asked to leave the position.
He also said that part of the resolutions being considered was for Obasa to withdraw the suit against the assembly and Meranda in court.
DECENCY GLOBAL NEWS reports that Obasa, who has since faulted his removal, has dragged the Assembly and Meranda before a Lagos State High Court in Ikeja, claiming that the lawmakers were wrong to have removed him when the Assembly was in recess.
The source, therefore, noted that since political solutions were being considered, it was likely that Obasa would withdraw the suit.
He said, “Meranda will step down, and Obasa will also step down. They will now pick someone else from Lagos West. Lagos West is the largest senatorial zone in Lagos. The lawmakers seem to have agreed, otherwise, there won’t be peace. Part of the understanding is that the case the man (Obasa) took to court, he will withdraw it as well.
“Whatever there is a legal solution for, there is also a political solution, so there will be compromises here and there.”
The source added, “Those who don’t want Obasa feel that they have won the battle anyway, and the man will never be their speaker again. So there is nothing they are fighting for again.
“Meranda, whom they put there, is just a child of circumstance. And since things have changed – the woman herself is not a power monger, she didn’t say she has to be there forever. It is hoped that in the next one week, the agreement will be reached.”
Party mediating – GAC
In an interview with our correspondent on Monday, the Chairman of GAC, Chief Tajudeen Olusi, said the party “is mediating.”
He said, “The party is mediating. At the appropriate time, we shall tell you the conclusion of the mediating panel. Wait until the report is ready.
“It’s a mediating process, it’s part of the responsibilities of the party when there are conflicts within the legislature or even within the members of the party for us to take our time and listen to all sides.”
