By Ghazali Ibrahim 
The Lagos State House of Assembly is currently enmeshed in an unprecedented crisis following the dramatic return of Mudashiru Obasa, who was impeached as Speaker on January 13, 2025.
Obasa’s surprise re-entry into the Assembly chambers on Thursday has sent shockwaves through the legislative members of the house, with some lawmakers voicing support for his return while others remain loyal to the current Speaker, Mojisola Lasbat Meranda.
The division within the House has escalated tensions and left the future of the Assembly’s leadership uncertain.
While some lawmakers rallied up to voice a rejection note to the impeached speaker, saying “we reject him”, some loyalist of Obasa were seen behind his back when he was speaking to the journalist.
Obasa, accompanied by a strong security presence including police officers and operatives from the State Security Service (SSS), boldly entered the Assembly and declared, “I’ve resumed and I remain the Speaker of the Assembly”, ICIR reported.
His announcement came despite his impeachment weeks earlier and the election of Mojisola Meranda as the first female Speaker in the history of the Lagos State House of Assembly.
While Obasa’s defiant return shocked many, it was his supporters within the Assembly who further fueled the political fire.
Some members of the House, particularly those loyal to Obasa, were seen standing behind him during his press statement, like Hon. Noheem Adams, representing Eti-Osa 1, Hon. Ayinde Akinsanya representing Mushin constituency 1, openly solidifying their allegiance.
This has further complicated the already tense political landscape, as the Assembly now finds itself sharply divided.
The presence of these lawmakers, who seemed to back Obasa’s claim to the Speaker’s seat, has created a sense of confusion and chaos, with no clear resolution in sight.
