The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has clarified that Speaker Mudashiru Obasa is not expected to resign as part of the settlement to resolve the leadership crisis in the Lagos State House of Assembly.
Responding to rumours regarding Obasa’s resignation, Seye Oladejo, the APC spokesperson in Lagos, firmly dismissed the claims, stating:
“To the best of my knowledge, there was no time the arrangement for Obasa to resign came up in the terms of settlement of the crisis,” Oladejo told Vanguard.
Obasa's Lawsuit and Efforts Toward Peace
When asked about whether Obasa would drop his lawsuit, Oladejo indicated that:
“I’m aware that any moment from now, Obasa will withdraw the lawsuit in the interest of renewed peace and progress of the House in particular and the party in general.”
Obasa’s Return as Speaker
On Tuesday, Obasa met with 39 lawmakers at the assembly complex in a closed-door session to discuss the crisis. This meeting, which began at 2:10 p.m., also saw the attendance of Deputy Speaker Mojisola Meranda. It was understood that the goal of the meeting was to ease tensions and reconcile the aggrieved lawmakers.
Obasa’s return as Speaker on Monday followed Meranda’s resignation from the position, which came after a period of intense conflict. The January impeachment of Obasa, citing issues such as poor leadership, abuse of power, and intimidation, had led to widespread dissent, with over 90% of the lawmakers supporting his removal. However, Obasa rejected the impeachment, stating that the constitutional process was not followed and denying all corruption allegations.
Efforts for Resolution
To resolve the leadership impasse, a Governor’s Advisory Council meeting led by Pa Tajudeen Olusi—along with APC Chairman Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi, Lagos Attorney-General Lawal Pedro, and other party leaders—was held with the opposing lawmakers. While there were speculations that Meranda’s resignation was a condition for Obasa's return, sources indicated that Obasa might step down after 48 hours to allow a new Speaker from Lagos West, as demanded by 34 lawmakers. This arrangement is expected to be formalized with an official letter from the lawmakers.
The Lagos APC has now confirmed that Obasa will not step down as Speaker at this stage, but the evolving situation indicates that further negotiations may take place in the coming days.
