Fresh developments yesterday indicated that President Bola Tinubu may have finally stepped back from intervening in the prolonged crisis surrounding the Lagos State House of Assembly’s leadership.
According to a report by Vanguard, mounting pressure from influential figures and concerned citizens reportedly influenced his decision.
Meanwhile, the leadership of the Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC) of the Lagos All Progressives Congress (APC) had planned to meet with Tinubu in Abuja to discuss the matter. …CONTINUE READING
However, the meeting could not hold physically due to the President’s tight schedule, including preparations for his official trip to France.
Instead, a high-powered delegation from the GAC, led by its chairman Pa Tajudeen Olusi, traveled to Abuja on Tuesday.
Their mission was to brief Tinubu, the council’s founder, on the outcome of a recent meeting with 39 Lagos State lawmakers at Lagos House, Marina, moderated by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
The GAC had earlier convened an emergency session with state lawmakers on Monday, aiming to resolve the leadership dispute.
The crisis stemmed from the removal of former Speaker Mudashiru Obasa on January 13, 2025. In a dramatic session, 32 out of 40 lawmakers voted him out in absentia over allegations of financial mismanagement, misconduct, and authoritarian leadership.
His deputy, Mojisola Lasbat Meranda, was immediately installed as the new Speaker, triggering mixed reactions within the GAC, party members, and the public.
The decision reportedly did not sit well with President Tinubu and First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, who objected to both the process of Obasa’s removal and the choice of his replacement.
Tinubu was particularly concerned that both the Governor and the newly appointed Speaker hailed from Lagos Central, while Lagos West, the region Obasa represented, was left without a key leadership position.
He had advocated for a new Speaker from Lagos West, arguing that power should be more evenly distributed.
Despite this, lawmakers from Lagos West—about 20 in number—firmly rejected the proposal. Even with the promise of political incentives, they remained loyal to Meranda’s leadership, prioritizing stability in the Assembly over personal gains or future electoral prospects.
Ultimately, Tinubu’s planned meeting with the GAC in Abuja fell through. Instead, a phone conversation between the President and GAC leaders reportedly put the issue to rest, with the decision to maintain Meranda as Speaker standing.
Earlier, a majority of lawmakers had reaffirmed their strong support for Meranda, arguing that legislative independence was crucial for advancing Governor Sanwo-Olu’s “Greater Lagos Project” under his THEMES development agenda.
Despite initial tensions, Tinubu ultimately conceded, allowing the House to move forward under its new leadership.
