Members of the Lagos State House of Assembly have impeached Speaker Mudashiru Obasa over multiple allegations of fraud and gross misconduct.
Mr Olalekan Onafeko, the Clerk of the House, was also suspended indefinitely, while the Chief Whip, Mr Mojeed Fatai, was elected as the new Deputy Speaker. Multiple insiders confirmed that the legislators ousted the Obasa during a plenary session on Monday. Circumstances surrounding the Speaker’s removal remain unclear as of press time. However, the Vice Chairman, Mojisola Meranda, has been sworn in as the new Speaker.
Eromosele Ebhomele, Obasa’s Chief Press Secretary, has not responded to calls or text messages regarding the situation at the time of filing this report.
A lawmaker made a pretty profound statement about the impeachment, saying that change is the only constant in life, except for death. The individual acknowledged that the parliament members have decided to switch up the House’s leadership, and that this decision is actually backed by the Constitution, which gives the House the power to manage its own affairs.
The members of the House decided they’d had enough of Mudashiru Obasa’s leadership, so they unanimously agreed to make Hon. Mojisola Meranda the new Speaker and Hon. Fatai Adebola the Deputy Speaker. The decision was supported by every member of the parliament, and as a result, all the main positions and committees in 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,” the lawmaker stated.
The precise reasons for Obasa’s impeachment was not specified. Obasa recently dismissed allegations that the Assembly had spent ₦17 billion on constructing a gate as “spurious and laughable.” A group called the “Lagos State Anti-Corruption Coalition” had accused the Assembly of spending the amount on the gate and called for an investigation.
At the plenary, the former Speaker denied the allegations, describing them as politically motivated.
“I think it’s pretty ridiculous to claim that the Assembly spent ₦17 billion on a gate, considering the entire budget for the year is a fraction of that. According to Nigeria’s 2024 Budget Highlights, the proposed expenditure is NGN27.5 trillion, and I’m sure the Assembly’s allocation is just a small part of that. They even alleged that we spent ₦200 million 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 was held last Friday, attended by dignitaries from across the state,” he said.
Mudashiru Obasa, a sixth-term lawmaker representing Agege Constituency I under the All Progressives Congress, has held the speakership for years.
He has previously faced controversies and allegations of financial mismanagement within the Assembly.
