By Ghazali Ibrahim 
There are strong indications that Mrs. Mojisola Meranda, the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, may soon step down from her position, according to emerging reports.
Vanguard reports that although Meranda has agreed to resign, the decision will only be carried out during a plenary session of the House, in accordance with the proper procedures.
The House had adjourned indefinitely on Monday, February 17, following a vote of confidence by 36 out of 40 members in support of her leadership.
Sources indicate that discussions among leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) led to an agreement that Meranda would step down to allow Lagos West to produce the next Speaker.
It has been suggested that she might return to her former role as Deputy Speaker, although this remains to be confirmed.
“Madam Speaker cannot just resign without due process,” one source told Vanguard. “It has to happen during plenary when the House reconvenes, and until then, the status quo remains.”
Efforts to resolve the ongoing crisis have seen the intervention of key figures from the APC. High-profile leaders, including former APC National Chairman Bisi Akande, former Ogun State Governor Olusegun Osoba, and Pius Akinyelure, Chairman of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), have stepped in to mediate.
A follow-up meeting is expected soon after an initial session with principal officers and House members. The delegates sent from Abuja have been holding a series of meetings with stakeholders in a bid to restore peace within the Assembly.
Lagos West to Produce New Speaker
As part of the agreement, the next Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly will be selected from Lagos West. Eight lawmakers from this region have been shortlisted for the position, including Setonji David (Badagry Constituency 2), Temitope Adewale (Ifako-Ijaye 1), Kehinde Joseph (Alimosho 1), Adedamola Kasunmu (Ikeja 2), Lukman Olumoh (Ajeromi-Ifelodun 1), Wale Rauf Sulaimon (Mushin Constituency 2), Nureni Akinsanya (Mushin Constituency 1), and Surajudeen Tijani (Ojo 2).
The political maneuvering within the House is expected to culminate in a resolution soon, bringing an end to the ongoing crisis.
