By Ghazali Ibrahim 
The political crisis surrounding the Lagos State House of Assembly took a dramatic turn on Thursday as Mudashiru Obasa, who was impeached in January, made a forceful return to the parliament, asserting that he had resumed office as Speaker.
However, despite his move, his colleagues swiftly rejected his attempt to reclaim the position, further deepening the rift within the Assembly.
Obasa, who was ousted as Speaker on January 13 by a majority of lawmakers, stormed the legislative chambers with a heavy security presence, including police and State Security Service (SSS) personnel.
After his entrance, Obasa proclaimed, “I’ve resumed and I remain the Speaker of the Assembly,” a declaration that was met with resistance from other lawmakers.
Despite his attempt to resume his position, members of the Assembly, including those loyal to the current Speaker, Mojisola Lasbat Meranda, maintained their stance, rejecting his claims.
Meranda, who was appointed as the first female Speaker of the House following Obasa’s removal, has been unable to fully consolidate control of the Assembly, with the leadership dispute continuing to fracture the House.
