NaijNaira
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has dispatched heavyweight party figures to untangle the growing leadership crisis in the Lagos State House of Assembly. With the tension thicker than Lagos traffic, Tinubu is determined to prevent a full-blown political pile-up.
According to The PUNCH, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu hosted an emergency summit at the Governor’s Lodge in Marina, Lagos, pulling in party veterans like Chief Bisi Akande (Osun), Chief Olusegun Osoba (Ogun), and ex-Lagos Governor Akinwunmi Ambode. The high-stakes huddle, which dragged late into Sunday night, also included members of the Lagos Governance Advisory Council (GAC), APC Lagos Chairman Cornelius Ojelabi, and former state chairman Tunde Balogun.
The ongoing speakership saga that has seen Mudashiru Obasa—ousted in January—plotting a return, while Mojisola Meranda, the current Speaker, holds onto the gavel. “The meeting is still in full swing,” a source whispered. “The bigwigs are cooking up another round of talks with the lawmakers. Obasa’s camp wants him back, but others fear he’ll glue himself to the seat again.”
Fed up with the endless drama, Tinubu reportedly ordered party elders to broker peace—fast. The crisis first erupted on January 13, 2025, when 36 lawmakers booted Obasa during a recess and crowned Meranda as Speaker. Not one to go quietly, Obasa dragged the matter to court, arguing the timing of his ousting was unconstitutional.
A Compromise on the Horizon?
In a possible plot twist, whispers suggest Meranda might step aside for Setonji David, a lawmaker from Badagry, as part of a delicate compromise crafted by APC leaders. “It’s true—discussions are underway, and it looks like she may step down,” a Presidency source confirmed.
Tinubu, it seems, is playing the long game, urging party leaders to ensure fair representation—especially for Lagos West, which currently lacks a major voice in the state’s power structure. “The President insists Lagos West can’t be sidelined. He wants a solution that keeps everyone at the table,” the source added.
Meranda, however, is under mounting pressure. Insiders say she nearly resigned last week but was blocked by fellow lawmakers who couldn’t agree on the next step. “She was supposed to read her resignation at the Assembly, but it didn’t happen. Talks are still ongoing,” a source revealed.
Fueling the rumors, a resignation letter even surfaced—but never made it to the Assembly floor. Meanwhile, her aide, Segun Ajiboye, has been quick to dismiss reports of her stepping down.
On social media, voices are getting louder. Facebook user Ayoade Adeniyi hinted that high-level directives are at play: “Olori Oko has given a direct order for her to step down. The lawmakers met at Lagos House, Marina, on February 22, but it’s unclear who the President wants as Speaker.”
Adeniyi also threw a curveball, warning that Obasa’s return could trigger a major backlash. Lawmakers, he suggested, are open to compromise—just not with Obasa at the helm again.
The Political Chessboard Remains in Play
With the stakes this high, the Lagos Assembly drama is far from over. Will Meranda bow out gracefully? Will Obasa stage a comeback? Or will Lagos see a new face wield the Speaker’s gavel?
