Mudashiru Obasa, the ousted speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, made a dramatic return to the assembly complex on Thursday. Accompanied by security personnel, Obasa entered the Speaker’s Office at approximately 12 noon, triggering a fresh wave of tension within the assembly.
The move followed the controversial withdrawal of security aides assigned to the current Speaker, Mojisola Meranda.
In a statement, Segun Ajiboye, Chief Press Secretary to Meranda, condemned Obasa’s actions, accusing him and his team of illegally breaking into the Speaker’s office.
“We’re at the assembly now,” a source from the Obasa camp confirmed, indicating that the former Speaker was present within the complex.
The ongoing leadership dispute began after Obasa’s removal as Speaker, following accusations of poor leadership, mismanagement, and intimidation, among other allegations.
Over 90% of lawmakers expressed dissatisfaction with his leadership, leading to the election of Mojisola Meranda as the new Speaker.
Efforts to resolve the crisis included several meetings last weekend involving political stakeholders, including former governors and key All Progressives Congress figures, under the direction of President Bola Tinubu.
These discussions hinted at the possibility of both Obasa and Meranda stepping down in favor of another lawmaker.