By Our Reporter The deepening crisis within the Lagos State political landscape has taken a dramatic turn, with report according to Vanguar...
By Our Reporter
Obasa, a long-standing political force in the state, was impeached on January 13, 2025, by 36 out of 40 lawmakers who accused him of financial impropriety, autocratic leadership, and abuse of office. His deputy, Hon. Mojisola Meranda, was swiftly elected as the new Speaker in what was hailed by some as a victory for internal democracy. However, Obasa refused to accept the verdict of his colleagues and challenged the process in court.
Despite early agreements reached during a reconciliation effort led by President Bola Tinubu’s emissaries—including Chief Bisi Akande and Aremo Olusegun Osoba—Obasa allegedly defied the peace terms and refused to withdraw his legal action. That move has now paid off, with the Lagos High Court declaring his removal illegal and void, effectively returning him to office and nullifying Meranda’s short-lived speakership.
The Vanguard's report detailed that, in a twist that has shaken the APC hierarchy, insiders say Obasa's reemergence signals more than just a legal victory—it marks his ascendancy as the party's new strongman in Lagos. This development has reportedly unsettled the balance of power, with sources claiming that Governor Sanwo-Olu is facing mounting pressure from powerful interests to vacate office.
According to political observers, Obasa’s reinstatement may have been a precursor to a larger political rearrangement. There are strong indications that the endgame is to install Sanwo-Olu’s deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, as governor, potentially setting the stage for Seyi Tinubu—son of President Tinubu—to emerge as the APC gubernatorial candidate in 2027, Vanguard reports
Major General Tajudeen Olanrewaju (rtd), Alternate Chairman of the influential De Renaissance Patriots Foundation, described the recent developments as a power play orchestrated from Abuja. He warned Sanwo-Olu to “watch his back,” suggesting that the governor may be the next casualty in a calculated effort to consolidate control within the party.
“We saw a leader in Abuja intervening directly in the legislative process of a state,” Olanrewaju said. “An indigene who had lawfully emerged as Speaker was pressured into resigning, and now Obasa has been reinstalled. This is not just about the Speakership—it’s a symbolic crowning of Obasa as the true leader of APC in Lagos. The governor should take heed; the ground beneath him is shifting.”
The APC, however, denies any plan for Obasa to resign or for a broader leadership transition. Party spokesman Seye Oladejo said no such arrangement was discussed during reconciliation talks. “To the best of my knowledge, there was no agreement that Obasa would step down,” he stated.
Nevertheless, the optics of the situation suggest otherwise. Since regaining his seat, Obasa has adjourned the House indefinitely, a move critics argue is strategic—buying time while internal party dynamics are recalibrated.
As the dust settles, all eyes are now on Sanwo-Olu. Once seen as a steady hand steering Lagos through challenging times, the governor now finds himself isolated amid an intensifying political storm. Whether he can survive the current wave—or will be swept aside by it—remains to be seen. But what is increasingly clear is that Mudashiru Obasa is no longer just the Speaker; he is now the man to beat in Lagos APC.
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