Historic Shift or Political Turmoil? Lagos Assembly in Crisis After Speaker’s Impeachment
Lagos, Nigeria – Political tensions in Lagos State have reached a fever pitch following the impeachment of former Speaker Mudashiru Obasa and the historic appointment of Rt. Hon. Mojisola Lasbat Meranda as the first female Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly. Meranda officially assumed office on Monday, January 27, 2025, amid controversy, with a two-thirds majority of the House voting to remove Obasa.

Citing Chapter 5, Section 92 of the Nigerian Constitution, lawmakers defended their decision, stating that Obasa’s impeachment was carried out in accordance with legal provisions. However, the political landscape has since been rocked by unexpected developments, including the detention of several lawmakers involved in the impeachment by operatives of the Lagos Command of the Department of State Services (DSS).
In a show of defiance, members of the Assembly visited the DSS office in Shangisha to reaffirm the legitimacy of their decision and condemned the detentions as intimidation tactics.
The crisis deepened on Sunday, February 2, 2025, when reports surfaced alleging that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), had instructed Meranda and other principal officers to step down in order to reinstate Obasa. The reports further claimed that First Lady Oluremi Tinubu had intervened on Obasa’s behalf, pressuring the President to act to prevent potential political instability ahead of the next elections.

However, a political insider dismissed these allegations as false, asserting that they were fabrications designed to sway public opinion in Obasa’s favor. The source, speaking to PMExpress, stated, “When it seemed ploys and tactics from the ex-speaker were not yielding expected results, those behind the plots resorted to sponsoring wild rumors and dropping influential names.”
Another source close to the presidency dismissed the speculation as baseless, asserting that it was inconceivable for President Tinubu to be unaware of such a significant political shift in Lagos, his stronghold. The source noted, “How can something of this magnitude happen, and the DSS and other intelligence agencies be unaware? These are civilian politicians, not military officers who can hold clandestine meetings. If the President had any objections, he would have stopped it before it even began.”
The unfolding crisis has left Lagosians watching closely, as the political power struggle continues to play out. With Meranda now at the helm, the next moves of both her allies and Obasa’s supporters will determine the future of the Lagos State House of Assembly and its leadership. Whether this marks a new era of progressive leadership or a prolonged period of political instability remains to be seen.