According to the Punch Newspapers, the dismissal of Mudasiru Obasa as Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly has introduced significant turbulence within President Bola Tinubu’s longstanding political structure. Ismaeel Uthman reports.
President Tinubu’s influential political network in Lagos may be facing its most critical challenge yet, following controversies surrounding Obasa’s ouster.
The decision to remove Obasa received backing from several members of the Governance Advisory Council (GAC) without consulting Tinubu, marking a rare deviation from established party norms under his leadership.
Initially, it was speculated that Tinubu approved the move before the legislators acted. However, insiders familiar with Lagos APC politics disclosed that the President was left in the dark about the development, which caused him considerable embarrassment and confusion.
On January 13, Obasa was voted out of office by 36 lawmakers amid accusations of financial impropriety, misconduct, and abuse of office. Mojisola Meranda was immediately sworn in as Speaker, with Mojeed Fatai assuming the role of Deputy Speaker.
Despite his dismissal, Obasa, who has represented Agege Constituency I as Speaker since 2015, maintained upon his return from the U.S. that he still held the position.
His removal has sparked division within the GAC and Lagos APC, creating fractures that threaten Tinubu’s political dominance.
In an effort to reassert his influence, Tinubu reportedly directed GAC members to convince the legislators to reinstate Obasa and allow him to step down voluntarily.
Following this directive, the GAC convened a marathon meeting at the Governor’s Lodge in Marina. Despite expressing regret and pledging loyalty to Tinubu, the lawmakers stood firm, rejecting Obasa’s reinstatement. Out of 39 lawmakers in attendance, 37 voted against his return.
The legislators reportedly agreed to send a letter apologizing to the President while explaining their reasons for opposing Obasa’s reinstatement.
A widely circulated video captured jubilant APC members celebrating Meranda’s speakership, urging her to remain steadfast.
Sources indicated that a delegation of six GAC members visited Abuja to present the lawmakers’ letter to Tinubu but were unable to meet with him.
An APC insider described the development as a defining political challenge for Tinubu, revealing that tensions were fueled by factors such as ambitions for the 2027 gubernatorial race, factional rivalry between the Justice Forum and Mandate caucuses, and the desire of Lagos indigenes to secure political dominance.
The source noted that while Obasa belonged to the Mandate faction, many lawmakers and GAC members were aligned with the Justice Forum, which reportedly drove efforts to remove him to undermine his gubernatorial aspirations.
The insider further emphasized that Obasa’s strained relationship with lawmakers likely sealed his fate, as evidenced by the overwhelming support for his removal.
Regarding the President’s alleged directive to reinstate Obasa, another APC chieftain cautioned that such a move could spark further unrest and damage the party’s prospects in future elections.
He questioned the authenticity of the directive, warning that reversing Meranda’s appointment would be perceived as hostile to Lagos indigenes and undermine emerging feminist and female-led support groups backing her leadership.
Joe Igbokwe, a prominent APC figure, remained optimistic, asserting that the GAC had the capacity to manage the crisis effectively.
He emphasized that Lagos had a rich democratic tradition and that the GAC’s seasoned leadership would resolve the situation without lasting damage.
Igbokwe expressed confidence, saying, “Lagos has strong, wise elders who know when to push forward and when to hold back. They will find a solution, and this issue will not spiral out of control.”
Similarly, APC chieftain Fouad Oki warned against prolonging the crisis, urging respect for the Assembly’s independence and recognition of Meranda’s widespread support.
Oki highlighted the need for progress, advising the party to listen to the voices of the people to avoid jeopardizing its political stability.
Hear him speak: “The governor is playing the devil’s advocate. Some say he is the major financier of this entire situation and is the one ensuring that the President’s directive is not followed.”
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