EXCLUSIVE: What we know about Obasa’s impeachment as Lagos Assembly Speaker
The impeachment of Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa as Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly earlier in the day on Monday (today) took many by surprise.
This was because apart from being the first plenary/working day of the week, the embattled former Speaker was not in the country. According to reports, he was in far away Atlanta, United States with some colleagues.
Obasa, who is serving his third term as speaker, was removed from his position over allegations of gross misconduct and abuse of office.
The 52-year-old lawmaker, who represents Agege state constituency I since 2007, became speaker of the House in 2015.
The impeachment was made by the 32 members through a voice vote.
A calamity foretold
NewsClick Nigeria reports that the embattled former speaker’s ordeals did not start without warning signals. According to reports and comments from party chieftains, Obasa’s silent rift with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu played a factor in his ouster.
NewsClick Nigeria recalls that in 2023, the Assembly faced public backlash after rejecting 17 out of 39 commissioner nominees submitted by Governor Sanwo-Olu.
At the time, Obasa denied any rift with the governor, although the issue prompted a meeting with the Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC), the highest decision-making body of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos.
More recently, the Obasa-led assembly proposed a bill to restructure local governance in the state.
The bill sought to replace the existing 37 local council development areas (LCDAs) created in 2003 by Bola Tinubu, former governor of the state, with democratically elected local governments, recognising only 20 LGAs as outlined in the 1999 Constitution.
However, in a statement seen as a counter, Cornelius Ojelabi, the APC chairman in Lagos, insisted that elections would still hold in both the 20 LGAs and the 37 LCDAs in 2025.
He bit more than he could chew – APC chieftain
A high-ranking chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) who spoke on condition of anonymity with NewsClick Nigeria on Monday evening said Obasa’s removal has been in the works for a while. According to him, the former Speaker rose through the ranks steadily as follower of President Bola Tinubu but almost learnt nothing from him (Tinubu) politically.
‘Obasa became too ambitious and didn’t even hide it. As someone who has been with President Tinubu when the movement was just gaining momentum, he appears not to have learnt anything. He played to the gallery. He now sees himself as too big and a force that must be reckoned with; biting the finger that fed him in the process. He played to the gallery.
He now sees himself as too big and a force that must be reckoned with; biting the finger that fed him in the process. I would have expected him to know better, considering the many years he spent transforming from nothing into a giant. There are numerous positions he can hold aside from being a governor,’ the chieftain said.
How motion of impeachment was removed
NewsClick Nigeria gathered that at Monday’s plenary where Obasa was impeached, the former Deputy Speaker (now Speaker), Meranda, presided.
Lawmaker representing Kosofe constituency, Femi Saheed moved the motion for the removal of the speaker for alleged misappropriation of funds, poor leadership and abuse of office.
He cited at least five reasons why Obasa should be removed as the speaker of the assembly.
“…I hereby move that the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Right honourable Mudashiru Obasa be removed as speaker of this House for gross misconduct and poor leadership including
highhandedness and disregard for honourable members of the House of Assembly,” he said.
The lawmaker also accused him of “intimidation and suppression of and inciting members against one another…mismanagement of funds and lack of time transparency in his management of the House of Assembly funds.”
He accused Obasa of abusing his position and its privileges.
Saheed also described Obasa’s leadership style as “authoritarian and undemocratic.”
The motion was unopposed and all the lawmakers present supported it. The exact number of lawmakers present during Monday’s sitting could not be established as of the time of this report.
We have had enough of him – House confirms impeachment
Meanwhile, speaking to journalists after Obasa’s impeachment on Monday, a member of the house said the decision was unanimous.
The legislator also confirmed that all principal positions and standing committees in the assembly have been dissolved
“It is just a change of baton. It is only death that is constant. Change is inevitable,” the member said.
”The members of the parliament, today, has decided to change the leadership of the house. And the constitution makes it clear that the house has the power to regulate its proceedings.
“So, members of the house felt we have had enough of Rt. Honourable Mudashiru Obasa; and today, we have unanimously agreed that Rt. Honourable Mojisola Meranda becomes the speaker.
“It was a resolution concurred to by all members of the parliament and so be it. Honourable Fatai Adebola as deputy speaker of the house of assembly.
“And as we speak, all the principal positions have been dissolved. All standing committees stand dissolved.”
New House leadership emerges
Lawmaker representing Apapa Constituency and former Deputy Speaker, Mojisola Meranda has seen been elected the substantive speaker.
Meranda, who took her oath of office immediately, would serve as the first female speaker of the Lagos legislature. The new Deputy Speaker is Fatai Adebola.
