President Bola Tinubu has resolved the leadership crisis in the Lagos State House of Assembly, backing the return of Mudashiru Obasa as Speaker, despite an earlier recommendation for his resignation.

The resolution came after a meeting between Tinubu and all 40 lawmakers at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

The President’s decision contradicts the recommendations of a panel he had set up to mediate the crisis.

The panel, led by former Osun State Governor, Bisi Akande, and former Ogun State Governor, Gbenga Daniel, along with the leadership of the Governance Advisory Council, had advised that Obasa should step down after being reinstated.

The panel initially recommended that Mojisola Meranda resign as Speaker to allow for Obasa’s return, with the understanding that he would also resign shortly after, making way for a new Speaker from Lagos West to balance the state’s political structure.

On March 3, 2025, 49 days after Obasa’s impeachment, Meranda resigned and was re-elected as Deputy Speaker.

Obasa was then reinstated as Speaker in line with the agreement.

However, contrary to the deal, Obasa adjourned the Assembly indefinitely and refused to resign as expected.

Obasa had been removed on January 13, 2025, by 35 lawmakers, who accused him of high-handedness, financial misappropriation, and authoritarian leadership.

Meranda replaced him but later resigned under pressure from party leaders.

On Wednesday, the lawmakers arrived at the Presidential Villa in Abuja in a Coaster bus around 2 pm, after which security officials ushered them into the President’s office complex.

Meranda arrived with her colleagues, while Obasa arrived separately at about 3 pm.

On Tuesday, Obasa’s lawyer, Chief Fashanu Afolabi (SAN), had said the Speaker did not withdraw his suit despite his reinstatement as Speaker.

He said the allegations Obasa by the lawmakers were heavy and needed to be trashed.

“Because there are some issues that are still pending within the context of notice of allegation.

The case of allegation contains reasons for the impeachment which include highhandedness, fraudulent malpractices and the rest and we feel that those issues must be trashed out.

Justice Yetunde Pinheiro of the Lagos State High Court in Ikeja had on Monday adjourned the hearing of a suit filed by Obasa to March 17, 2025.
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