Obasa vs Meranda: How party supremacy trumped Assembly’s autonomy in Lagos
For 49 days, the Lagos State House of Assembly was embroiled in a leadership crisis following the impeachment of Speaker Mudashiru Obasa and the election of his deputy, Mojisola Meranda as his replacement. The turmoil, which paralysed legislative activities, eventually ended with Obasa’s reinstatement after intense pressure from the leadership of the All Progressives Congress […]
meranda and obasa
For 49 days, the Lagos State House of Assembly was embroiled in a leadership crisis following the impeachment of Speaker Mudashiru Obasa and the election of his deputy, Mojisola Meranda as his replacement. The turmoil, which paralysed legislative activities, eventually ended with Obasa’s reinstatement after intense pressure from the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC), highlighting the supremacy of party politics over legislative autonomy.
From vote of confidence to impeachment
The Lagos State House of Assembly had enjoyed relative stability over the past decade under the leadership of Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa. Not only is he one of the longest-serving legislators in Nigeria, he is also the second longest serving Speaker in the country, coming after the Speaker of the Borno State House of Assembly, Abdulkarim Lawan.
When lawmakers moved against him on January 13, 2025 by impeaching him and electing his deputy as the new Speaker, many wondered what had gone wrong between him and his colleagues, whom he had led since 2015. Many lawmakers in the 40-member House of Assembly have come and gone, but Obasa, who represents Agege 1, has seen it all, survived various threats and opposition and became an institution within the Assembly.
In November 2024, the lawmakers passed a vote of confidence in Obasa, showering him with praise on the occasion of his 52nd birthday.
“We have absolute confidence in his leadership, and there is no better way to show this than to pass a vote of confidence in the Speaker,” Deputy Majority Leader Adedamola Richard Kasunmu said while speaking on the motion.
However, less than two months after this confidence vote, his colleagues turned against him. His impeachment was widely reported, shaking the political landscape of the state as the majority of lawmakers backed his removal and elected Meranda as the new Speaker.
Power play behind Obasa’s impeachment
Obasa’s impeachment was seen in some quarters as an attempt to clip the wings of a rising political star within Tinubu’s expansive political empire, while also giving Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu some breathing space. Critics described Obasa as impertinent and disrespectful toward the governor, a sentiment he never attempted to conceal.
His controversial comment about the 2027 governorship election, made during an important state function, became a reference point.
In November 2024, during the presentation of the 2025 budget, Obasa stirred controversy when he declared that he was neither too young nor too inexperienced to run for Lagos governor, insisting that “those who have been before me are not better off.”
His impeachment was thus seen as a strategic move to curb his ambitions—whether disclosed or not—to succeed Governor Sanwo-Olu.
However, upon returning from his vacation, Obasa dismissed his impeachment, insisting that he remained the Speaker. His return marked the beginning of intense politicking and negotiations, leaving the House of Assembly in disarray for more than a month. During this period, the legislative house was unable to debate motions, consider bills or pass resolutions—its primary responsibilities—effectively putting lawmaking on hold.
For weeks, tension gripped the House over Obasa’s reinstatement following reports that the impeachment had been carried out without consulting the party’s leadership. Specifically, President Bola Tinubu, who is the apex leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state and under whose authority the Governance Advisory Council (GAC) operates, was reportedly kept in the dark about the impeachment.
Various sources indicated that the president was displeased with the development and directed party leaders to intervene. However, despite their efforts, the GAC—the highest decision-making organ of the party—struggled to resolve the crisis as the lawmakers remained adamant about their decision to impeach Obasa.
Although he is yet to formally declare his interest in the race, sources said the development in Lagos could pose some threats to the 2027 second term bid of President Tinubu, who needs all the home support he can get to actualise his presidential dream.
Thus, to quickly nip the crisis in the bud before it snowballed into a consuming inferno, the intervention of former APC national chairman, Chief Bisi Akande and Aremo Olusegun Osoba was eventually sought.
A crisis mishandled?
The main controversy surrounding the impeachment was the manner in which it was executed. Although the lawmakers listed several grievances against Obasa and insisted they had “had enough” of him, they were criticised for failing to handle the process tactfully. He was impeached at a time when he was unable to defend himself, leading them to believe the matter was settled.
From the onset, party leaders were divided over the impeachment. The GAC was split into pro and anti-Obasa factions, while another segment of the party, particularly from the indigenous community, supported Meranda.
Despite the seemingly firm stance of about 35 lawmakers that Obasa would not be reinstated, they eventually succumbed to pressure on Monday, March 3, 2025.
Amid tension and anxiety, the House reconvened after several marathon meetings with party leaders. Lagos APC chairman, Cornelius Ojelabi, along with other party leaders, present to oversee the resolution of the crisis.
Emotions ran high as lawmakers moved to restore the status quo. They hailed Meranda for her courage and resilience, describing her as a heroine of democracy. Eventually, they reverted to the previous arrangement, reinstating Obasa as Speaker.
The Assembly later adjourned sine die to allow for further consultations and fence-mending among stakeholders, particularly among lawmakers.
Party supremacy or legislative autonomy under attack?
While stepping down as Speaker, Meranda confirmed that she had taken the difficult decision to step aside in the interest of peace and out of deference to the party’s leadership. To many observers, this was yet another instance of party supremacy overriding legislative autonomy. Analysts argue that this was where the lawmakers erred in deciding “to take their destiny into their own hands.”
Given that party leadership often determines who holds key positions in legislative houses where they have the majority, political analysts view it as a grave mistake on the part of the lawmakers not to have consulted the party leadership.
APC spokesman, Seye Oladejo, in a chat with our correspondent, disclosed that the lawmakers only briefed the party a few days after the crisis had escalated.
“We want to put it on record that the members of the House officially briefed the party about the untoward development and requested wise counsel from the party just a few days ago. The party met with all members and proffered practical solutions that were sacrificial, stabilising and in the best interest of the state.
“You may wish to note that our role remained basically advisory and could only be binding if upheld in the hallowed chamber of the House of Assembly.”
The chairman of the GAC, Alhaji Tajudeen Olusi categorically denounced the lawmakers for failing to carry the party leadership along.
He said, “We read it also that morning. The lawmakers carried it out without consulting the party and those of us in the GAC. That is our position.
“We invited all of them and insisted that they are all products of the party. They lodged their complaints and we listened to them. I blamed them for one thing, and that is for not lodging the complaints earlier before the party.
“It is for the party to decide. They (lawmakers) have no absolute power to remove and install their leaders. Nobody can become a member of the House of Assembly unless sponsored by a political party; and the sponsors are the inspectors.”
What next for the lawmakers?
With Obasa reinstated as Speaker, observers believe the House will not remain the same. The crisis has undoubtedly left a stain and it will take time for wounds to heal. While Obasa’s reinstatement is attributed to his longstanding loyalty to the political establishment, he will need more tact and diplomacy to carry the House along.
There are speculations that his reinstatement was a way to offer him a soft landing, with an agreement that he would eventually step down to allow a new Speaker from the Lagos West senatorial district. However, sources close to him deny any such plan.
Despite this, uncertainty lingers among Assembly workers and lawmakers. Will Obasa eventually resign? That remains the question on many lips as the House is yet to reconvene fully.
Even within the Assembly, workers remain divided, uncertain about what lies ahead. Will Obasa step down as rumoured? That question dominates discussions as the House is yet to reconvene.
But sources close to the Speaker said he was focused on reconciliation. Asked whether he plans to resign, another insider said, “I don’t think so. If there were such plan it would have happened by now. The Speaker is meeting with colleagues, appealing for peace and assuring there will be no intimidation or witch-hunt over recent events.”
What analysts are saying
Some observers argue that the much-touted legislative independence has been overshadowed by party interests. Others see it as the triumph of the state’s long-standing political structure. However, many believe the last has not been heard of this crisis.
A political analyst, Kayode Esuola, believes the situation is being managed, rather than fully resolved. “We cannot say Obasa has truly returned. He is back on the seat but there is still politicking underway. The crisis is ongoing. The Speaker has not been reinstated through parliamentary motions; on the contrary, motions were passed rejecting him. This means the situation is still fluid.”
A political scientist, Professor Hassan Salihu, said the lawmakers miscalculated by impeaching Obasa without consulting the party leadership. According to him, if the decision had stood, the party’s authority would have been undermined.
“Some lawmakers thought they could act because the president was absent, but their move backfired. This is a classic case of power dynamics at play. If they could change the Speaker today, they could remove the governor tomorrow. That’s why the party structure stepped in to reverse it,” he said.
Salihu described the incident as a failed attempt to test the waters. “The power brokers have spoken and the decision has been reversed. There may be some resistance, but it will fade. When Ambode was blocked from re-election, there was noise, but in the end, power prevailed.”
On legislative independence, he questioned whether true autonomy exists, asking, “Was the Senate independent when the APC decided that Akpabio should be Senate president or when Abbas was chosen as Speaker? How did they get there? These are idealistic notions, but in reality, is democracy truly by the people and for the people?
He concluded, “The power structure has spoken and lawmakers will fall in line. If this move had been tolerated, worse would happen next time. This is politics.”