PoliticalNews Nigeria studies that the political panorama in Lagos State is going through a significant shake-up following the controversial impeachment of former Speaker Mudashiru Obasa on January 13, 2025.
This transfer has deepened divisions inside the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) forward of the upcoming native authorities elections.
Recall that Obasa, who led the Lagos State Home of Meeting for a decade, was eliminated whereas he was away from the nation, elevating allegations of an influence tussle inside the ruling occasion.
Regardless of his removing, Obasa has refused to vacate the Speaker’s official residence and insists that the impeachment course of was flawed.
“I imagine I’m nonetheless the speaker till the correct factor has been carried out. If you wish to take away me, take away me the right manner, and I can’t contest it,” Obasa advised his supporters whereas dismissing allegations of fraud levelled in opposition to him.
Tinubu’s Energy Play And The Political Miscalculation
Obasa was extensively thought to be an untouchable political determine as a consequence of his robust backing from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the longtime political godfather of Lagos.
In keeping with an aide to the President who spoke with The Africa Report, Tinubu strategically stored Obasa in energy to checkmate governors and keep management over the state’s politics.
“Tinubu’s fashion is straightforward. He picks governors and likewise the Speaker, who has the powers to question the governor anytime the governor steps out of line. This has helped him keep management of Lagos,” the aide revealed.
Nevertheless, Obasa’s rising affect and defiance reportedly angered Governor Sanwo-Olu and different APC leaders, notably when the previous Speaker arrived late for the 2025 price range presentation and made a daring comment suggesting he was certified to be governor.
Muiz Banire, a former APC authorized adviser, famous that Obasa’s defiance signaled a direct problem to the occasion hierarchy.
“For him to go in opposition to such an institution, he needed to face the implications,” Banire mentioned in an interview on Channels Tv.
Throughout President Tinubu’s go to to Lagos over the Christmas holidays, the GAC reportedly complained about Obasa’s conduct, resulting in a directive for him to apologize.
Nevertheless, after failing to conform, lawmakers—backed by highly effective political figures—impeached him in his absence and changed him with Deputy Speaker Mojisola Meranda.
Political insiders declare that Lagos APC leaders miscalculated Tinubu’s place, believing he had sanctioned Obasa’s removing.
Nevertheless, sources near the presidency in an interplay with The Africa Report insisted that Tinubu was in a roundabout way concerned within the transfer, resulting in recent confusion inside the occasion.
The political disaster took a dramatic flip when federal investigators refused to arrest Obasa, regardless of corruption allegations in opposition to him. As a substitute, the key police arrested two lawmakers—Lanre Afinni and Sylvester Ogunkelu—who performed key roles in his impeachment.
Nevertheless, their detention was short-lived as different lawmakers stormed the safety company’s workplace, demanding their launch and insisting that the impeachment was official.
Whereas Tinubu has not publicly intervened within the disaster, sources point out that he was displeased with the way of Obasa’s removing.
The President reportedly instructed that if Obasa will not be reinstated, his alternative should come from Lagos-West senatorial district to take care of the state’s political stability.
At present:
– Governor Sanwo-Olu is from Lagos-Central
– Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat is from Lagos-East
– Obasa is from Lagos-West, the most important and most politically influential district
Nevertheless, with Obasa’s impeachment, the brand new Speaker Mojisola Meranda additionally hails from Lagos-Central, leaving Lagos-West unrepresented. This imbalance has fueled additional discontent inside APC factions within the state.
Obasa’s Affect In Lagos-West And APC’s Inside Battles
Obasa’s stronghold in Lagos-West makes him a important participant within the APC energy construction. He’s thought to be essentially the most influential politician within the district, particularly as Senator Oluranti Adebule, who represents the area, is taken into account politically weak.
He additionally leads The Mandate Group, a faction inside the APC, including to considerations that his ouster might fracture the occasion forward of the native authorities elections
With Obasa eliminated as speaker, there may be now a vacuum within the district, particularly because the state prepares to carry native council elections quickly. The date is as but unannounced, however the tenure of the present holders ends in Could.
As a result of Tinubu misplaced the presidential election in Lagos State to Peter Obi of the Labour Get together in 2023, he has change into extra weak and thus wants to make sure that his household stays intact.
“You can’t take away your greatest striker in the midst of the sport. Tinubu understands this and that’s the reason he’s insisting on Obasa,” says Niniola Moruf, an aide to the impeached speaker.
Impeccable sources inside the occasion say that Tinubu has requested the leaders within the state to instantly take away the brand new Speaker Meranda and exchange her with one of many lawmakers from Lagos West.
“We advised the president that many of the lawmakers are with Meranda. He mentioned we should choose somebody from Lagos West to switch her,” mentioned a member of the GAC who added that the president was upset {that a} speaker could possibly be impeached and one other one put in with out his permission.
Nevertheless, Meranda who’s the primary lady to be appointed as speaker is preventing laborious to take care of her seat.
Meranda, who’s from the royal household in Lagos, is claimed to have gained the assist of some conventional rulers, together with her brother, Omogbolahan Lawal, who’s the normal ruler of Oniru in upscale Victoria Island.
“The problem now could be that Meranda is from Lagos. Obasa is even initially from Abeokuta in Ogun State. We can not transfer in opposition to our personal daughter,” mentioned a serving chief of the APC in Lagos.
In an announcement, Fouad Oki, a chieftain of the APC in Lagos, suggested the occasion management to let Meranda proceed and let sleeping canines lie.
“You will need to acknowledge that maybe there have been missteps in partaking with occasion management earlier than this resolution [Obasa’s impeachment]. Nevertheless, we should recognise that the choice has been made and stands as a fait accompli.
“In gentle of this, I enchantment to your compassion and knowledge to permit the legislature the independence it deserves.”
Nevertheless, insiders say Adedamola Kasunmu, a nephew of Tinubu is a kind of being shortlisted as speaker as he comes from Lagos-West and can also be a senior lawmaker.
There may be additionally a push by some leaders within the state to provide the place to Setonji David Samuel, the present deputy chief whip who hails from the marginalised space of Badagry which can also be a part of the Lagos-West senatorial district.
Observers warn that eradicating Meranda so quickly would threat additional turmoil at a time when Lagos wants stability to handle {economic} challenges.