Amid the protracted speakership tussle which has unsettled the hitherto calm legislative arm of Lagos State, ousted Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, showed up at the Assembly Complex on Thursday.
Obasa was chaperoned by a retinue of armed, stern-looking uniformed security operatives as he walked into the hallowed chambers which he has not been publicly seen since his removal as Lagos speaker on Monday, January 13, 2025.
In a show of solidarity, his supporters gathered at the entrance gate of the Assembly Complex, chanting and cheering on the lawmaker who represents Agege Constituency I in the 40-member House.
Back in January, Obasa was removed as Lagos speaker when more than two-thirds of the house voted him out over alleged misconduct and sundry offences.
Obasa’s then deputy, Mojisola Meranda, was immediately elected the new Speaker, becoming the first female to take charge of the legislative body in the South-West state.
A day after she became the speaker, Meranda visited members of the Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC) to “brief them about what happened at the House of Assembly yesterday and to seek their blessings which we have gotten”.
Mudashiru Obasa said “I’ve resumed, and I remain the Speaker of the Assembly,” Obasa said.
On January 13, 2025, lawmakers of the Lagos State House of Assembly had impeached Obasa for alleged misappropriation.
Obasa was away in the United States when he was removed as Speaker.
While away, his deputy, Mojisola Meranda was appointed Speaker and sworn in.
Upon his return, Obasa contested his removal, saying his impeachment did not follow due process.
Credit: channelstv.com
