The leadership crisis rocking the Lagos State House of Assembly has been resolved., lagoscityreporters.com has learnt in the THEWILL can exclusively report

According to THE WILL, the decision for the current speaker to resign follows a meeting held on Sunday night at the Governor’s residence in Marina, which was attended by all members of the Assembly, leaders of the Governance Advisory Council (GAC) and Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and other key figures.

The meeting focused on resolving the speakership tussle between Honourable Mudashiru Obasa, who was impeached as Speaker by 36 out of 40 members of the assembly but remains defiant and Honourable Mojisola Meranda, who was elected as his replacement.

According to the THEWIL, it was gathered that after extensive deliberations a vote was taken to show whether Obasa has the support to continue as Speaker. He received a meagre 7 votes, which effectively closed his chance of continuing as substantive speaker.

Before the vote, according to THEWILL checks, lawmakers took turns to address the gathering. “They were very frank with him”, our source said anonymously. It was very emotional for some members who complained about neglect and poor welfare under Obasa’s leadership. “A member lamented how he was in ICU for two weeks and almost died yet, the Speaker did not release welfare money for him to pay his bills. Some said they took loans to get by and have been struggling to pay back. It was a very bad night for Obasa. He could not save himself.”

However, following President Bola Tinubu’s directive that Obasa be allowed to resign honourable (a kind of soft landing), it was unanimously agreed that he should be reinstated as Speaker and then subsequently resign. “It was also agreed that Hon. Meranda should step down as well,” the source added.

THEWILL further gathered that it was resolved that Obasa and Meranda’s resignation letters must be received by the GAC on Wednesday, March 5, 2025, and a new candidate for Speaker from Lagos West Senatorial District will be selected and presented to lawmakers on the same Wednesday by the GAC.

Hon. Obasa, a devout supporter of President Tinubu, was abruptly impeached on January 13, 2025, without the knowledge and support of the president, who was in Abu Dhabi on an official trip. The majority lawmakers, who enjoy the support and backing of Governor Sanwo-Olu, have remained defiant despite pressures from the president to undo his sack, which led to the Speakership crisis.

THEWILL reports that Obasa, who represents Agege 1 State Constituency, was first elected Speaker in 2015, making him the longest serving Speaker of the assembly, while Meranda is the first female Speaker of the House.

Credit: THEWILL