•Mojisola Meranda
A gale of resignations and reshuffling hit the floor of the crisis-torn Lagos State House of Assembly today with the stepping down of the first female Speaker in the state, Mojisola Meranda.
Meranda, who represents Apapa Constituency I, announced her resignation at the plenary after which lawmakers immediately re-elected her as the Deputy Speaker of the Assembly, reports Channels TV.
The lawmakers commended her leadership style and for bringing peace to the Lagos State House of Assembly. They also commended her strength and humility for obeying the rules and regulations of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Meranda’s resignation followed a reported meeting with some high-ranking members of the APC in the state to navigate the leadership crisis that has rocked the hallowed chambers in the last seven weeks.
Similarly, the Deputy Speaker of the House, Mojeed Fatai, who represents Ibeju-Lekki Constituency I, announced his resignation as the deputy speaker of the House.
Fatai said his resignation was in the interest of the House. He was immediately re-elected as the Chief Whip of the Assembly.
The Chief Whip of the Assembly, Setonji David, who represents Badagry constituency II also resigned his position and was re-elected as the Deputy Chief Whip of the house.
A member of the House from Kosofe Constituency I, Okanlawon Sanni, also tendered his resignation as the Deputy Chief Whip of the House.
Mudashiru Obasa Game of Thrones?
The leadership crisis in the Assembly became full-blown on January 13, 2025, when a lawmaker, who represents Agege Constituency I, Mudashiru Obasa was removed as Lagos speaker by more than two-thirds of the 40-member house who voted him out over alleged misconduct and sundry offenses.
Obasa’s then deputy, Meranda, was immediately elected the new Speaker, becoming the first female to take charge of the legislative body in the South-West state.
On January 25, 2025, Obasa vehemently rejected his removal and insisted that he remained the speaker until the right thing had been done. He faulted the militarisation of the assembly complex during the impeachment process. He also claimed his removal as speaker took place in his absence — when he was out of Nigeria.
However, 36 lawmakers loyal to Meranda insisted that Obasa’s removal was final and that Meranda remained the speaker of the House.
On February 17, 2025, tempers flared at the Assembly Complex when security agents and some legislative workers clashed over the presence of the former in the hallowed chambers. Thereafter, thirty-six of the lawmakers passed a vote of confidence in an emotional Meranda and adjourned sitting indefinitely.
On February 27, 2025, Obasa showed up at the Assembly Complex and was chaperoned by a retinue of armed, stern-looking uniformed security operatives as he walked into the hallowed chambers. Last Thursday’s appearance was Obasa’s first in the Assembly since his removal as Lagos speaker on Monday, January 13, 2025.
Obasa insisted that he remained the speaker of the House despite protests by his colleagues who rejected his leadership and pledged loyalty to Meranda.
