Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Monday distanced himself from the impeachment of the state House of Assembly Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa.
The Governor’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Gboyega Akosile, explained that the impeachment was purely a legislative issue, without political interference from the state government.
Akosile emphasized the constitutional separation of powers between the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches.
While details surrounding the Speaker’s removal remain unclear, reports suggest that Obasa was dismissed over accusations of misconduct, abuse of power, and financial mismanagement.
The Clerk of the House, Olalekan Onafeko, was also suspended indefinitely, and Mojeed Fatai was elected the new Deputy Speaker. The House has yet to issue an official statement regarding the development.
According to multiple sources, the impeachment occurred during a Monday session where 90 percent of the Assembly members supported the motion.
Following the impeachment, Mojisola Meranda, the Deputy Speaker, was sworn in as the first female Speaker of the Lagos Assembly.
In a viral video, a lawmaker explained the decision to remove Obasa, citing the constitutional authority of the House to regulate its proceedings and the unanimous vote to appoint Meranda and Fatai.
The lawmaker added that all principal positions and standing committees of the House had been dissolved.
Obasa’s Chief Press Secretary, Eromosele Ebhomele, did not respond to inquiries regarding the impeachment.
Regarding whether Obasa would face prosecution for alleged fraud, Akosile stated that since the Assembly was behind the accusations, it was up to the lawmakers to decide how to proceed.
Obasa recently dismissed allegations that the Assembly had spent N17 billion on constructing a gate, calling them “spurious and laughable.” The allegations, made by the Lagos State Anti-Corruption Coalition, were politically motivated, according to Obasa.
Speculation also swirled about Obasa’s ambition to run for governor of Lagos in 2027. During a budget presentation in November 2024, Obasa remarked that while he had not seriously considered a gubernatorial run, he had the experience to do so.
His comments were made amidst rumors that President Bola Tinubu’s son, Seyi Tinubu, might be eyeing the position.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos dismissed claims of political influence in Obasa’s impeachment. Party spokesperson Seye Oladejo emphasized that the impeachment was an internal matter for the legislature.
He refuted speculation linking Obasa’s ousting to his governorship ambitions, stating that the reasons for the impeachment, as provided by the House, did not mention party involvement.
In contrast, the Deputy Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos, Tai Benedict, suggested that Obasa’s impeachment was expected due to his governorship ambitions, which he believed posed a threat to certain political factions. Benedict also questioned the timing of the financial allegations against Obasa.
The Labour Party’s Lagos State Secretary, Sam Okpala, said his party was observing the situation closely, noting that the Labour Party had just one member in the Assembly and was focused on seeing how the APC dealt with internal issues.
Former Lagos Assembly member Muyiwa Jimoh, who served as Deputy Majority Leader during Obasa’s tenure, remarked that the impeachment was long overdue, citing Obasa’s shortcomings and the efforts made by some members to address his leadership flaws.
