President Bola Tinubu intervened in the ongoing Lagos Assembly crisis, holding a closed-door meeting on Wednesday with Speaker Mudashiru Obasa, Deputy Speaker Mojisola Meranda, and other members of the Lagos State House of Assembly at the State House.
The lawmakers arrived in two white buses, while Obasa arrived separately. Tinubu’s intervention comes after weeks of political tension following the removal of Obasa as Speaker and the brief tenure of his replacement, Mojisola Meranda. However, after the meeting, indications suggest a resolution, though questions remain about the power struggles at play.
Obasa’s Removal and Meranda’s Brief Tenure in the Lagos Assembly Crisis
The Lagos Assembly leadership crisis intensified on January 13, 2025, when more than two-thirds of the 40-member House voted to remove Obasa as Speaker. Lawmakers accused him of misconduct and other offenses, leading to the election of his then-deputy, Mojisola Meranda, as Speaker.
Meranda’s rise was historic, as she became the first female Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly. However, her time in office was short-lived. Obasa rejected his removal, arguing that the process was invalid because he was not in Nigeria at the time. This led to a heated standoff between rival factions. While 36 lawmakers stood by Meranda, insisting her appointment was legitimate, Obasa’s supporters fought for his return.
Tinubu’s Intervention and Obasa’s Return as Speaker
After weeks of tension, the crisis took a dramatic turn on March 3, 2025. Mojisola Meranda resigned as Speaker, allowing Obasa to reclaim his position. At the plenary session, lawmakers praised Meranda for stepping down in line with directives from the All Progressives Congress (APC). She was immediately re-elected as Deputy Speaker, securing a strong political position despite her brief leadership.
Following Tinubu’s intervention in the Lagos Assembly crisis, lawmakers were seen chanting “On your mandate we shall stand,” affirming their loyalty to the president. While no official statement has been released, a lawmaker at the meeting claimed, “everything has been resolved.”
However, many observers remain skeptical. Was this a genuine reconciliation, or was Tinubu’s intervention in the Lagos Assembly crisis just a carefully orchestrated display of political dominance?
