THE governor of Lagos State Babajide Sanwo-Olu has distanced himself from the impeachment of the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa.
Sanwo-Olu’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Gboyega Akosile, clarified in an interview that the impeachment was strictly a legislative matter, free from any political influence or interference from the state government.
He cited the constitutional principle of separation of powers among the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial arms of government.
“It is purely a legislative affair, and the Assembly handled it independently. The governor has no involvement in the matter,” Akosile stated.
The specifics of Obasa’s removal remain unclear as of press time, but sources reveal that the Lagos State House of Assembly impeached him over allegations of misconduct, abuse, and financial mismanagement.
Clerk of the House Olalekan Onafeko was also suspended indefinitely, while Mojeed Fatai, the Chief Whip, was elected Deputy Speaker.
Following the impeachment, Mojisola Meranda was sworn in as the new Speaker, becoming the first female to hold the position in the Assembly’s history.
A viral video showed a lawmaker explaining that the decision was unanimous, citing the need for change in leadership.
“The Constitution empowers the House to regulate its proceedings, and members unanimously agreed to elect Hon. Mojisola Meranda as the new Speaker and Hon. Fatai Adebola as Deputy Speaker. All principal positions and standing committees of the House have been dissolved,” the lawmaker stated.
Obasa’s Chief Press Secretary, Eromosele Ebhomele, did not respond to inquiries regarding the impeachment.
On whether the state government would prosecute Obasa over fraud allegations, Akosile explained that it was up to the Assembly to decide, as they raised the accusations.
Obasa recently dismissed allegations that the Assembly spent N17 billion on constructing a gate, calling them “spurious and laughable.”
He also refuted claims of spending N200 million on a Thanksgiving service, describing them as politically motivated.
There are speculations that Obasa’s political ambitions, particularly his potential bid for Lagos governorship in 2027, contributed to his impeachment.
During the 2025 budget presentation, Obasa addressed the rumors, asserting that while he hadn’t given serious thought to running for governor, he has the experience to contest.
Amidst the controversy, the Lagos APC and Governor Sanwo-Olu denied any involvement in the impeachment.
The APC’s Publicity Secretary, Seye Oladejo, emphasized the legislature’s independence, dismissing speculations of political interference.
Similarly, opposition parties, including the PDP and Labour Party, expressed varying perspectives, with some suggesting political motivations behind Obasa’s removal.
Former Assembly member Muyiwa Jimoh described the impeachment as overdue, citing Obasa’s alleged shortcomings during his tenure as Speaker since 2015.
“This decision is not about personal gratification but for the good of the state,” Jimoh said.
Obasa, representing Agege State Constituency I, had served as Speaker for nearly a decade before his removal.