Lagos Assembly Crisis: How Obasa’s Reinstatement as Speaker Undermined Democracy on March 3rd

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By Maj Gen Tajudeen Olanrewaju, Rtd.

The APC’s spokesperson, Oladejo, has once again taken a stand on the wrong side of justice and fairness. To my knowledge, democracy took a significant blow on March 3rd when members of the Lagos State Assembly “re-elected” the constitutionally impeached Speaker, Obasa, following the resignation of Hon Mojisola Lasbat Meranda from the same position she had secured with an overall majority.

If this situation represents the culmination of a geopolitical shift that has kept the ruling elites awake at night over the simple act of electing a speaker, there are two crucial areas of concern regarding the future of Lagos State politics.

Firstly, when our lawmakers cannot freely implement a legitimate resolution, the principles and values of governance begin to erode. Are we not witnessing the slow demise of democracy, with a blatant assault on its foundations? The transformation of a loser into a winner based on an agreement raises questions. The election, initially celebrated with the best intentions, has failed to bring about meaningful change. Is there an ulterior motive behind this agreement? One can only speculate.

Secondly, regardless of the Lagos State APC’s assertion that Obasa’s resignation was not part of the agreement, such statements cast doubt on legitimacy and breach trust. Hon Mojisola Lasbat Meranda was directed to step down and return to her former position as deputy speaker, despite having secured majority votes as the speaker elected by the house plenary on January 13, 2025. The actions taken have deprived the house members of their democratic choice, as the unfolding events suggest. Conspiracy theories now hint at the influence of Abuja’s power centers in the decision-making process to resolve the Lagos State House of Assembly crisis. Only time will reveal whether the outcome of this crisis is beneficial for the citizens of the state.

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What further evidence do we need when Oladejo has stated, “To the best of my knowledge, there was no time that arrangement for Obasa to resign came up in the terms of settlement of the crisis.” A narrative was presented to the public that Obasa would resign on March 5, 2025, when a neutral member from Lagos West would be elected to occupy the speaker’s seat and resolve the ongoing positioning conflict. Given the current political drama, Lagos State politics will require a new roadmap by 2027, and both indigenes and allies must rally together to reclaim power. The ruling elites appear unwilling to involve the indigenes in the governance of the state, and the removal of Hon Mojisola Lasbat Meranda as speaker has left a bitter taste in the mouths of the state’s indigenous citizens.