President Bola Tinubu may receive a letter from lawmakers in the Lagos State House of Assembly protesting Mudashiru Obasa’s dismissal as speaker.
Additionally, our reporter learned that Obasa might be permitted to return to the House and willingly step down as Speaker.
The decision was reportedly made alongside the lawmakers after a lengthy meeting of the Governance Advisory Council members on Monday at the Governor’s Lodge in Marina, Lagos.
According to GAC members who talked to our correspondent, the meeting went on Tuesday, with members claiming once again that Obasa’s removal on January 13, 2025, was unlawful and disrespectful to the All Progressives Congress leadership in Lagos.
They claimed that in order to express their opinions, the MPs were instructed to submit a letter to Tinubu, the party’s national leader.
Most posts in the Lagos State Government, including the state assembly, are held by party members, and the GAC is the highest decision-making body of the APC in the state.
The House leadership and other members were reportedly present at the GAC meeting on Monday, along with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat.
Chief Muraina Taiwo, a member of the GAC, stated that although the council informed the lawmakers of the “mind of the party,” the parliamentarians had already decided to keep Mojisola Meranda as Speaker of the House of Assembly.
Following Obasa’s dismissal, the parliamentarians unanimously elected Meranda, a former deputy speaker, as Speaker of the House.
In a telephone interview with The Newsline on Tuesday, Chief Taiwo, who had previously criticized Obasa’s dismissal, stated that it was crucial that lawmakers permit Obasa to return to the House so he can think about quitting on his own.
“I am aware that the GAC informed them of the party’s stance, and the honorable members stated that they had made up their minds and were sticking to them,” he said.
They agreed to put all of their complaints in writing and send them to the president in Abuja.
“Let’s see what happens between now and tomorrow (today), or perhaps by the time they return from Abuja, we’ll know what to do next.”
He went on to say that Obasa could not be forced to quit by the MPs. In my opinion, the parliamentarians ought to comply with the party’s leadership’s directive and permit the speaker to return to work and collaborate with him. “They won’t force him to resign; that’s his (Obasa’s) own decision,” he said.
When asked what the actual GAC directive was, he said, “The leadership has decided that if he had committed any obvious offense, we would have known, and they have not reported him before, so they should allow him to continue his work.” Politically and constitutionally, what they did is wrong.
He asserted that since “we believe Tinubu is our leader and will continue to be our leader forever,” it was appropriate for the lawmakers to notify Tinubu of their decisions.
The lawmakers were to write to Tinubu, according to another GAC member who wished to remain unnamed.
The GAC member responded, “Yes, yes,” when asked if lawmakers will apologize to the president for not including him in their decision as was widely rumored. They went beyond that. They just decided that he should step down and undo the removal.
According to rumors that circulated earlier Tuesday, Tinubu opposed Obasa’s removal and demanded that it be reversed. Consequently, GAC instructed MPs to write the President two letters of apology.
Media sources state that the first letter was written to admit that they had not consulted party leaders prior to Obasa’s expulsion and to promise to convert his removal to a voluntary resignation.
The second letter, which was allegedly signed by 17 of the 20 MPs from Lagos West, agreed that Meranda should serve out her tenure as Speaker despite zoning issues.
In a Tuesday interview with the Newsline, GAC chairman Chief Tajudeen Olusi stated that the organization would only take an official stance when the time was right, adding, “At the appropriate time, we shall talk.”
“Have you ever seen a statement issued by the appropriate authority of GAC stating this order?” he asked when asked if GAC had actually given the MPs the directions.
As long as we haven’t released a statement approved by our secretariat, disregard any such information as official, Olusi continued. “GAC is an organ created by our party and the government for internal assistance to governance in our state, so if it is necessary for us to issue a statement, we will do that.”
Questions concerning the development have not received a response from the Lagos State House of Assembly. As of Tuesday evening, when this report was filed, Hon. Ogundipe Olukayode, the House Spokesperson, has not returned calls or texts.
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