President Bola Tinubu held a meeting with the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudasiru Obasa, along with other lawmakers from the state at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. The meeting followed a heated political crisis that led to Obasa’s impeachment and the subsequent swearing-in of Mojisola Meranda as Speaker.
The crisis began when allegations of financial mismanagement and fraudulent practices were leveled against Obasa, leading to a major fallout within the Lagos State Assembly. A faction of lawmakers, citing concerns over transparency and accountability, moved against Obasa, eventually voting for his impeachment. In response, the Assembly elected Mojisola Meranda as the new Speaker, marking a significant shift in the state’s legislative leadership.
Meranda was sworn in following the impeachment proceedings, assuming the leadership of the Assembly amid tensions among lawmakers. However, the situation took a dramatic turn when President Tinubu intervened, calling for the reinstatement of Obasa. The President, leveraging his political influence in Lagos, instructed lawmakers to reverse the impeachment, emphasizing party unity and stability within the state legislature.
Following the directive, Obasa and Meranda, along with other lawmakers, arrived at the Presidential Villa for consultations with Tinubu. According to Punchng the legislators arrived at about 2:00 pm on Wednesday in a Coaster bus, with security officials escorting them into the President’s office complex. While Meranda arrived alongside her colleagues, Obasa arrived separately an hour later, at approximately 3:00 pm, signaling the delicate nature of the discussions.
The outcome of the meeting is expected to determine the future leadership of the Lagos State House of Assembly, as well as set a precedent for handling internal party disputes in the state’s legislative body. Political observers are closely watching developments, as Tinubu’s intervention could either resolve the crisis or further deepen divisions within the ruling party.