Since the emergence of Rt. Hon Mojisola Lasbat Meranda as the first female speaker of the Lagos House of Assembly and consequently resumption in office on Monday, January 27, 2025, the Lagos polity had witnessed various activities.

At the inception of her emergence, many had wondered if the impeachment of ex-speaker Mudashiru Obasa would hold water as a result of his absence but the lawmakers that spearheaded the impeachment and the election of Meranda insisted that the process was done to uphold the sanctity and integrity of the House.

Upon the return of Obasa, the ex-speaker, who has refused to leave the official residence of the Speaker of Lagos Assembly, claimed his impeachment and emergence of Meranda were illegal.

However, lawmakers including Hon. Ogundipe Stephen Olukayode and Hon. Abiodun Tobun backed the process of Obasa’s impeachment and the emergence of Meranda with Chapter 5, Section 92 of the Nigerian Constitution, which says a Speaker of House of Assembly or Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly shall vacate the office if he/she ceases to be a member of the House of Assembly otherwise than by reason of the dissolution of the House; When the House first sits after any dissolution of House; or if he/she is removed from office by a resolution of House of Assembly by the votes of not less than two-third majority of the members of the House.

In another twist, the men of the Lagos Command of the Department of State Services (DSS) detained some Lagos lawmakers over the impeachment process. Determined not to renege on their resolutions, members of the Lagos State House of Assembly visited the Shangisha office of the DSS to reaffirm that the removal of the former Speaker was in line with constitutional provisions.

The latest ploy is to use the media in distorting the real issues and spreading false narratives to cause unrest to the Assembly and the new leadership.

Earlier on Sunday, February 2, 2025, there were false reports claiming President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who also doubles as the leader of the All Progressive Congress, has instructed the current leadership of the House of Assembly led by Rt. Hon Meranda to resign for Obasa to return and be reinstated. The report even falsely linked the distinguished First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, to the fake tale noting that she spoke to the president on behalf of Obasa to ensure Meranda and other principal officers resign. This, the report noted, was to avoid political issues ahead of the next elections.

“When it seemed ploys and tactics from the ex-speaker are not yielding expected results, those behind the plots have resorted to sponsoring wild rumours and dropping names,” an inside political source revealed. “The president is the leader of our party and it’s quick to drop his name around in the media to make Obasa seem like one who has a strong backing. All the antics from Obasa that you are seeing are all the ex-speaker clutching to the last straws of what remains of his political career.”

Another source close to the presidency waved off the report as not only a joke but a figment of the writer’s imagination or possibly sponsored by the Obasa camp.

“The people claiming the president wasn’t aware of the removal of Obasa are insulting the president and the security architecture of his administration. How can something like that take place and the DSS and other people handling intelligence will not know. These are ordinary civilian politicians, not military officers who can hold clandestine meetings. So, something of that magnitude happened in Asiwaju’s Lagos and he didn’t know?” the source asked rhetorically.

Continuing, the source revealed that the narrative that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who also serves as the leader of the All Progressive Congress and linking the distinguished first lady, Oluremi Tinubu to the mix is pure lies.

“How can anyone think he wasn’t aware and so he is unhappy with the lawmakers? He had received them in the villa after they were all elected, the same way the governor had received them. If Asiwaju didn’t want it to happen, he would have nipped the plan in the bud and stopped them in their tracks. I insist, something of that political magnitude could not have happened and he would be in the dark.”

Meanwhile, Rt. Hon. Mojisola Lasbat Meranda has resumed office and received dignitaries and association including the executives of National Association of Nigerian Students, representatives from the 1st Assembly to the 9th Assembly of the Lagos State House of Assembly, amongst others while presiding over the plenary sessions in the house without issues.

The facts of the emergence of Rt. Hon. Mojisola Lasbat Meranda is one that is open to the general public.

Rt. Hon. Meranda’s emergence is coming from a place of worth and competence. As one, who never had issues with the former speaker while she held the position of the Deputy Speaker nor contested for the position after the speaker was impeached, it becomes worrisome to many how she emerged.

Some argued that her emergence was influenced by the powers that be but investigation has proven that despite being the immediate younger sister to the Oniru of Iru land, Meranda has achieved popularity and deposited confidence in the consciousness of other lawmakers with her smart, intelligent and brilliant mien. Her elder brother has repeatedly noted that he has no business with the activities in the state assembly as he’s busy with the development of Iru land, hence he has no hand in either her emergence nor her running of the house of assembly activities since her emergence in January 2025.

Meanwhile, Rt. Hon. Meranda has enjoyed unwavering support and backing from the female folks across the state. Aside from her dedication to women, widows, children and youths’ causes, her emergence as the first female speaker in the Lagos Assembly since the inauguration of the first assembly in 1979 has ignited a united front from various women oriented civil and labour organisations across the state.

Meranda, who is a wife, mother, and politician with an impressive resume, is an easy going person, who was voted by the members of the assembly as a result of her worth and the confidence they have in her

The political drama surrounding the impeachment of the former Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, has taken a new turn as Senator Anthony Adefuye, a key member of the Governance Advisory Council (GAC), has voiced his support for Obasa’s claim that his removal was unconstitutional. However, the pro-democracy group Lovers of Lagos has challenged Adefuye to back his assertions with a clear reference to the Constitution, insisting that the law, not emotions, should guide such matters.

In an interview with The Punch, Senator Adefuye expressed agreement with Obasa’s position that the impeachment process was flawed. “What he’s saying is that he was illegally removed and the procedure was faulty, and I agree with him,” Adefuye stated. This has sparked widespread debate about the legality of Obasa’s ouster, which occurred on January 13, 2025, with the support of 32 lawmakers—an overwhelming majority in the House.

Lovers of Lagos: Sentiment Is Not Law

Responding to Adefuye’s remarks, Lovers of Lagos issued a statement challenging the senator to provide specific constitutional provisions that were violated during Obasa’s removal. The group emphasized that governance and legislative actions must be guided by law, not personal sentiments or political loyalties.

“As an elder of the party and a former legislator, Senator Adefuye should know better than to make vague claims without backing them with constitutional evidence,” the group said. “If the former Speaker’s removal was truly illegal, let Senator Adefuye or anyone else point us to the exact part of the Constitution that supports this claim. It is not enough to make emotional arguments; these issues are constitutional, not sentimental.”

Obasa’s Claims Under Scrutiny

During his public address at the Speaker’s Lodge in Ikeja on Saturday, Obasa reiterated his stance that his removal did not follow due process. He denied allegations of financial misconduct and questioned the validity of the impeachment process.

“I have not done anything wrong. I have been a lawmaker for over two decades and am the longest-serving lawmaker in the House,” Obasa stated. He further mocked the allegations, asking, “Is it possible to construct an ordinary gate with N16 billion? It’s not the Wall of Jericho or the wall between the United States and Mexico.”

However, Lovers of Lagos dismissed these claims as a distraction from the real issue at hand. “The impeachment of Rt. Hon. Obasa was supported by 32 lawmakers—an undeniable majority. This shows that the process had widespread support within the Assembly. If Obasa believes his removal was unconstitutional, he should take legal action and let the courts decide, instead of engaging in public theatrics,” the group added.

A Call for Clarity

The group also criticized Senator Adefuye for adding fuel to the political crisis without offering constructive solutions. “As a respected elder and a member of the GAC, Senator Adefuye should be advising on how to move the state forward, not sowing discord by making baseless claims. The Constitution is clear on the procedures for impeachment, and these were followed in the case of Obasa,” Lovers of Lagos noted.

The Way Forward

While Obasa has hinted at potential legal action, observers have urged him to focus on presenting his case in court rather than fueling tensions in the political arena. His comparison of his removal to that of former Speaker Jokotola Pelumi, who he claims was impeached following due process, has also been questioned by legal experts, who argue that each case is unique and must be evaluated on its own merits.

“Lagosians deserve governance rooted in accountability and the rule of law. If there are grievances, they must be addressed within the framework of the Constitution. The era of impunity is over, and everyone, regardless of position, must adhere to the law,” Lovers of Lagos concluded.

As the controversy rages on, the spotlight remains on Senator Adefuye and others supporting Obasa to prove their claims with facts, not rhetoric. Until then, the Lagos State House of Assembly, under the leadership of Rt. Hon. Mojisola Meranda, continues its work, moving past the era of Obasa’s leadership.

Former member of Lagos State House of Assembly, Honourable Dr Oluyinka Ogundimu, has congratulated the newly-elected Speaker of the Assembly, Rt Honourable Lasbat Mojisola Meranda on her new achievement.

Honourable Ogundimu described Rt Honourable Meranda’s election as well deserved nothing that the fact she was overwhelmingly voted for to lead the House by her colleagues was a testament of the confidence repose in her by them.

“That you were overwhelmingly voted for by your colleagues to lead them is a confirmation of their belief in your ability and capacity to lead them,” Dr Ogundimu said.

He stated further, “and having related, interacted and worked with you closely during the 8th and 9th Assemblies, I have no doubt that you have the ability to restore the Assembly glory and return it to its status of being above common standard of excellence”.

Dr Ogundimu, who was a member of the House in the 7th, 8th and 9th Assemblies, urged the lawmakers to rally round the new Speaker, support her and cooperate with her to make the House great again.

“It’s your collective responsibility to join hands with Rt Honourable Meranda to restore the dignity of the House,” he said