Obasa’s Impeachment: Intrigues And Allegations That Ended Lagos Assembly Speaker’s Reign

Mudashiru Obasa’s reign as Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly abruptly ended on Monday, following his impeachment on multiple allegations of financial impropriety.

The dramatic political shake-up marks the end of Obasa’s leadership, which spanned over eight years.

Unanimous Decision To Impeach

The decision to impeach Obasa was unanimous among the lawmakers, signalling a rare collective resolve in Lagos politics.

A member representing Epe Constituency 1, Abiodun Tobun, confirmed that all members of the Assembly agreed to the leadership change.

“This was a unanimous decision to move the House forward. All standing committees and principal positions have also been dissolved,” Tobun stated while introducing the new leaders of the Assembly.

Allegations And Fallout

Naijaonpoint reports that Obasa’s removal follows allegations that he oversaw the withdrawal of ₦43.5 billion for backup vehicles for lawmakers and was implicated in other statutory and financial infractions.

The embattled former Speaker was reportedly in Atlanta, United States of America when the Assembly members initiated proceedings leading to his impeachment.

Shortly after his removal, some of Obasa’s loyalists stormed the Assembly complex but were intercepted and detained in a Black Maria, parked in front of the Assembly with the inscription, “Lagos State Task Force.”

Meranda Emerges As First Female Speaker

Following Obasa’s impeachment, the Deputy Speaker, Mrs. Mojisola Meranda, was elected as the new Speaker, making her the first substantive female Speaker in the history of the Lagos State House of Assembly.

Fatai Mojeed, formerly the Deputy Chief Whip, was elected as the new Deputy Speaker.

Until his impeachment, Obasa had served as Speaker since June 2015, gaining recognition for his influence in Lagos politics.

However, his leadership has been marred by accusations of being overly zealous, inciting division among members, and perpetuating an authoritarian style of governance.

In a sweeping move to recalibrate the Assembly’s leadership, all standing committees and principal positions were dissolved.

Tobun, speaking on the impeachment, said, “It is only death that is constant, so change is inevitable. Members of the Parliament today have decided to change the leadership of the House. The Constitution makes it clear that the House has the power to regulate its proceedings.

“The members of the House felt we had had enough of the leadership of Mudashiru Obasa. We unanimously agreed that Mojisola Meranda would become the new speaker and Fatai Adebola would be the deputy speaker. It was a resolution concurred by all members of the parliament. As we speak, all principal positions and standing committees of the House have been dissolved.

“The House has resolved to work together to move the parliament to the next level. We cannot sit back and watch the parliament fall into ruin. We owe our constituencies and Lagos State the duty of restoring the sanity and integrity of this House. That is why we have taken this action—to save our image and our state.”

During his nine-year reign as speaker, Obasa faced many challenges, including allegations of misappropriation of funds and the battle to hold on to the position term after term. However, he seemed irremovable until Monday.

In 2020, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission invited Obasa to question him about allegations that Lagos funds were diverted to his personal firms and bank account. However, he denied all the allegations.

He dismissed the most recent allegation, that the Assembly spent N17 billion constructing a gate, as “spurious and laughable.” In his defence, Obasa said the allegations were politically motivated, pointing out specifically that “such baseless claims will arise as the 2027 elections approach.”

He said, “It is funny. How much is the allocation of the Assembly in a whole year for anyone to claim we spent N17bn on a gate? They even alleged that we spent N200m on the recently organised 22nd Thanksgiving Service, which is untrue.

“We are aware that as elections in 2027 approach, such baseless claims will arise. It seems some people are scared, and I don’t know why. This House has not embarked on any such project. We are not reckless. Our Thanksgiving Service was held last Friday, attended by dignitaries from across the state.”

According to Punch, political observers are of the view that Obasa’s cup got filled with his remarks when Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on November 21, 2024, presented the state’s 2025 budget of ₦3,005,935,198,401.

During the presentation, Obasa pivoted from the issue of the day into a long comment about his purported ambition to succeed Sanwo-Olu.

He remarked, imperiously, that despite ongoing speculation, he had not seriously considered running for governor. He emphasised that his primary concern was strengthening the party in the state.

Obasa’s Governorship Remark His Final Straw

Observers say Obasa’s remarks, which some Lagos powerbrokers reportedly deemed haughty, were the final straw. The former speaker declared that while he had not given the matter a serious thought, he did not lack the experience to contest the governorship election. He also added that none of the past occupiers of the office, once held by his godfather, was better than him.

“Becoming a governor is secondary; it is something that I have not given serious consideration. Nevertheless, that does not mean I am too young or lack experience to run; whereas, those who have been before me are not better off.

“In addition, it is also important to correct the impression from some naysayers who have been insinuating that I made payment to seek blood relations in Ojo to validate my candidacy to run as governor.

“Of course, I have never denied the fact that I am Obasa. Rather, I have never claimed to be related to Onikoyi, Oniru, or any of the other popular Lagos families as the case may be. I can indeed never run (away) from the fact that I am related to my Obasa family in Ojo. But I do not need local validity to contest or run any election. If eventually, I am contesting, I will do so from Agege,” Obasa said.

In a show of political strength, Obasa’s allies in the Assembly rallied around him and the lawmakers passed a vote of confidence in the embattled speaker. However, that show of confidence only lasted six weeks. Politics and how the tide could change in minutes!

The PUNCH reported that Obasa’s fate might have been sealed during President Tinubu’s visit to Lagos for the festive season.

Sources in the know said that the first sign of trouble for the speaker appeared when observers noticed a change in the President’s disposition towards him.

The ‘powerful’ Governor’s Advisory Council had visited the President at his Lagos home to report Obasa to Tinubu, who in addition to being the national leader of the ruling party also doubles as the godfather of Lagos politics. The Chairman of GAC, Tajudeen Olusi, was said to have opened the discussion reminding the President of how highly the governor’s office was held in the state when he was governor between 1999 and 2007.

Olusi was then said to have told the President that the disrespect that Governor Sanwo-Olu had suffered at the hands of the Speaker was no longer acceptable.

According to sources, Olusi went on to reel off instances when the speaker disrespected the governor, including one instance where some elders had to physically intervene and reprimand the Speaker.

A source at the meeting said the president was quite displeased with the feedback given by the GAC leadership and went on to tongue-lash him.

Tinubu reportedly excoriated Obasa for disrespecting the governor and his office and for poorly co-managing the politics of the state.

Tinubu allegedly cited the case of a bill being put forward by the Assembly to enable them to sack the Chairman of the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission.

A source at the meeting said the President scoffed at the idea, describing it as a huge joke, presided over by the speaker. The President, the source said, amused by the very idea, wondered aloud, “Which governor will sign such a bill into law, anyway?”

After the meeting was dismissed and everybody was made to leave, the speaker was said to have run after the President into an inner room in a bid to tell his side of the story and probably pacify a visibly angry Tinubu.

Suspecting Obasa’s move, a couple of other GAC members allegedly joined in that second meeting, where the issues were further discussed, and the Speaker was still condemned by the majority.