Mojisola Meranda, the embattled Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, has said the occupation of the Speaker’s Office by the ousted Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, is not a setback for her.
On Sunday, Meranda’s special Adviser on Information, Victor Ganzallo, said that Obasa taking over the office would not stop her principal from performing her duties as the Speaker of the Assembly.
In addition, Obasa, who had been absent from the House since his removal as Speaker on January 13, 2025, returned to the Assembly complex in a shocking move last Thursday.
The ousted Speaker came to the Assembly complex in the company of security officials and made his way into the Speaker’s Office around 9 am.
Subsequently, he held a plenary with four lawmakers while the other 35 lawmakers rejected him as their Speaker.
Over 30 lawmakers on January 13, 2025, removed Obasa and declared a former Deputy Speaker Meranda as Speaker.
Although the lawmakers cited abuse of office, financial misappropriations and misconduct as part of the reasons for Obasa’s removal, the decision marked the genesis of a leadership crisis at the Lagos 10th Assembly.
Obasa, who has since faulted his removal and denied allegations of the lawmakers against him, said he still remained the Speaker of the House.
Meranda Reacts
According to him, his purported removal by the 35 lawmakers was unprocedural and unconstitutional.
He insisted that nothing had changed and he remained the authentic Speaker.
Meanwhile, Meranda, speaking to journalists after a court hearing in Ikeja, described Obasa’s move as a show of shame, asserting herself as the authentic Speaker.
Also Read: Wahala! Police Withdraw Escorts Assigned To Lagos Speaker, Meranda
Meranda, who was flanked by other lawmakers, said, “The removed Speaker…I think he is still a member of the Assembly, so he has every right to come, but the invasion and breaking into my office, that’s really a big one.”
Emilokan: How Has The Tinubu-led Administration Affected You?
