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February 27, 2025
SaharaReporters earlier reported that Obasa’s invasion of the Assembly on Thursday came after all security aides attached to Speaker Mojisola Meranda had been withdrawn, raising concerns about her safety amid an ongoing leadership crisis.
The impeached Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, stormed the Assembly Complex on Thursday to with police personnel and thugs to reinstate himself.
SaharaReporters earlier reported that Obasa’s invasion of the Assembly on Thursday came after all security aides attached to Speaker Mojisola Meranda had been withdrawn, raising concerns about her safety amid an ongoing leadership crisis.
Videos obtained by SaharaReporters show that Obasa was accompanied by a team of security personnel, including police officers.
As of Thursday morning, police officers and other security details assigned to the Speaker were withdrawn, leaving her without official protection.
A source in Meranda’s camp who spoke to SaharaReporters after Obasa’s invasion, said they were still observing him to see what his next actions would be.
The source confirmed the invasion of the Complex, adding that Obasa was accompanied by police personnel and thugs.
“Yes, Obasa is presently at the complex with thugs and armed policemen. We are observing what he is doing. But all indications show that he wants to illegally reinstate himself,” the source said.
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“They have withdrawn all police officers attached to Mojisola Meranda. The policemen are protecting him; they are with him currently inside the complex.
“We are still watching him.”
It was earlier reported that the security details attached to Obasa had been restored amid the leadership crisis in the Assembly.
A source close to Meranda earlier confirmed the development to The PUNCH, stating, “All the Speaker’s security aides have been withdrawn. The House of Assembly’s security details have also been withdrawn, leaving her vulnerable.”
Meranda’s spokesperson, Ganzallo Victor, also confirmed the withdrawal, saying, “We don’t know why the authorities have done that, but all the police officers and other security details attached to her have been withdrawn. She’s on her own at the moment.”
SaharaReporters had reported that in a dramatic legal twist, the National Industrial Court in Lagos recently sacked the acting clerk of the House, Ottun Babatunde, who was appointed by Speaker Meranda and ordered Olalekan Onafeko’s reinstatement.
Onafeko was the clerk of the House before January 13 when Obasa was removed as Speaker.
The court ruling followed a suit (NICN/LA/23/2025) in which the claimant sought an interim injunction preventing the appointment of anyone else as Clerk.
The development has intensified the power struggle within the Lagos Assembly, raising concerns about legislative stability and compliance with judicial directives.
Background
Obasa, who was removed by the majority of lawmakers on January 13, 2025, had earlier in February dragged the new Speaker, Meranda, and the assembly to the state High Court in Ikeja, to seek redress.
Obasa, who was removed as Speaker of the House, was away in the United States when he heard of the development.
Justice Yetunde Pinheiro of the High Court of Lagos State is handling the case.
He had since rejected his removal, citing illegalities in the approach of the about 36 lawmakers who removed him.
His legal team of ousted Speaker recently said there was no plan to withdraw the suit filed to challenge his removal as Speaker.
Obasa’s lead counsel, Chief Afolabi Fashanu (SAN), told The PUNCH on Tuesday that he was prepared for the court hearing fixed for Friday, February 28, notwithstanding the moves to resolve the Assembly crisis politically.
Fashanu also explained that Obasa did not plan to return to the Assembly until after he had obtained a judgment from the court.
According to Fashanu, it could amount to an illegal step for Obasa to return to the House pending the decision of the case, which is already before a court.
Obasa's impeachment on January 13, 2025, followed allegations of gross misconduct and abuse of office, which led to his deputy, Mojisola Meranda, being elected and sworn in as his successor.
Despite this, Obasa has insisted that he is determined to challenge the outcome, describing his impeachment as unlawful and null and void.
Upon his return on January 25, Obasa said he was still the Speaker of the House.
Obasa argued that the impeachment process didn't adhere to constitutional procedures. Despite this, he's expressed willingness to accept his removal if it's done in line with constitutional guidelines.
“I have been a parliamentarian for over two decades and I’m the longest serving ember in the Lagos State House of Assembly and no one as we speak has surpassed my history, position and everything,” he said, while addressing his supporters in Lagos on Saturday, January 25.
“I believe in removal, there is no impeachment in the assembly; you cannot impeach speaker. Probably there is a mistake from them. You can only remove the speaker and if you want to remove, you must ensure you follow the rules. I am not afraid of being removed, what else am I looking for?”
“What I’m saying: if you want to do that, do it constitutionally. Follow the due process,” he said.
SaharaReporters reported on February 4 that members of the Lagos State House of Assembly, on Monday, February 3, apologised to President Tinubu for impeaching Obasa.
The apology followed a directive given by the leadership of the Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC) of the Lagos All Progressives Congress (APC) during an emergency meeting earlier held with the lawmakers at the Lagos House, Marina.
GAC is the highest decision-making body of the Lagos APC.
The meeting also had in attendance Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his Deputy, Dr Obafemi Hamzat.
A source at the meeting disclosed that Tinubu wasn’t pleased with the impeachment move hence his insistence that it be upturned.
Some members of the GAC also accused its leadership of not carrying them along before Obasa’s removal, hence they supported the President’s directive for his reinstatement.
The source further told SaharaReporters that the lawmakers were told to write two apology letters to the President.
The impeachment of Obasa has led to a crisis within the party’s leadership.
The disagreement among the APC leaders earlier became evident when two GAC members, Senator Anthony Adefuye and Chief Muraina Taiwo, openly opposed Obasa’s removal, describing it as illegal and a sign of disregard for party leadership.
However, their stance was swiftly dismissed by another GAC member, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, who described their comments as childish and inconsequential, urging party leaders to refrain from making hasty public statements on the issue.
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