Obasa’s Fierce Comeback and the Tumult at Lagos Assembly
Mudashiru Obasa isn’t backing down—far from it. On February 27, 2025, he swept back into the Lagos State House of Assembly surrounded by heavily armed security officers, making a bold statement in the midst of a stormy leadership crisis. What’s made this political drama so intense? Obasa was impeached on January 13, with more than two-thirds of the Assembly’s 40 lawmakers voting him out on allegations of misconduct and abuse of office. Only, he never accepted it. He was out of the country during the move, claiming it was illegal, staged without proper notice, and that due procedure was ignored. “I’ve never been removed,” he insisted, challenging both the process and the legitimacy of his removal.
The Obasa saga has been messy from the start. After lawmakers pushed him out, they wasted no time backing Mojisola Meranda, who made history as Lagos State’s first female Speaker. Thirty-six members threw their weight behind her, passed a vote of confidence, then called it quits on sittings, adjourning the Assembly indefinitely—effectively putting the Assembly in a state of limbo. But the drama only deepened when Obasa marched back in, refusing to leave without a fight.
Power Struggles, Allegations, and a Reversal
Money has always been at the center of House politics, and this time was no different. Fingers pointed at Obasa over alleged financial mismanagement: N17 billion spent on a gate project and another N200 million for a thanksgiving party. These are eye-popping sums, and the accusations were enough to put serious pressure on the embattled Speaker. Obasa flatly denied any wrongdoing. In his typical blunt manner, he called the charges “baseless,” painting them as just one more weapon in an ongoing political feud.
The plot twisted yet again when Meranda, after just over a month leading the House, pulled a shock move—she resigned on March 3. With her exit, Obasa was quickly re-elected to his old seat, marking a rare political comeback for the controversial state leader. Still, there was plenty of uncertainty hanging in the air about whether his removal had actually followed the rules or was just a power grab dressed in legal robes.
The ultimate word came from the courtroom. On April 16, 2025, a Lagos State court slammed the brakes on the whole ouster, declaring the impeachment unconstitutional. The judge found that key legal steps had been skipped—validation for Obasa’s stubborn insistence that he never truly left.
For the time being, Obasa is back at the helm, and the Lagos Assembly crisis seems to have quieted on the surface. But with allegations still swirling and fault lines exposed, everyone’s watching to see if stability actually holds, or if another chapter is waiting to explode.
Diego Vargas
April 17, 2025 AT 18:54Obasa’s impeachment saga actually highlights a gap in the Lagos Assembly’s procedural code. The constitution requires a two‑thirds majority AND a prior notice period, something that was disputed during the Jan 13 vote. In many parliamentary systems, a speaker can only be removed after a formal inquiry, which the opposition apparently skipped. Those legal nuances matter because they set a precedent for future power struggles. Even if the numbers looked clear, the lack of due process could render the whole move void.
Alex Lee
April 17, 2025 AT 21:40Obasa is just a power‑hungry clown who thinks size of his security means he’s legit. The whole thing is a circus and the people are sick of it.
Vida Yamini
April 18, 2025 AT 00:27It’s easy to get lost in the drama when you see headlines about armed security and court victories but let’s take a step back and see the bigger picture. The Lagos Assembly has always been a playground for intense politicking and today’s events are just the latest chapter in a long story of power jockeying. While the impeachment was announced with the fanfare of a grand finale many felt it lacked the procedural rigor that truly legitimate removal demands. The subsequent appointment of a historic female speaker was a bright spot that showed the assembly can break barriers even amid chaos. However her short tenure proved how fragile those breakthroughs can be when the underlying structures aren’t solid. The rapid resignation of Meranda after only a month suggests either personal pressure or strategic retreat to pave the way for Obasa’s comeback. The courtroom decision that declared the impeachment unconstitutional is a reminder that the judiciary still plays a crucial role in checking legislative overreach. It also signals that any future moves against a speaker will have to be airtight, with every legal step documented. For the people of Lagos this could mean a more transparent process if lawmakers learn from this mess. On the other hand, the lingering allegations of financial mismanagement keep the shadow of corruption over the assembly’s renewed leadership. The N17 billion gate project and the N200 million thanksgiving party are still being debated in public forums. Those figures, even if disputed, raise valid concerns about budget priorities in a city that faces pressing infrastructure needs. As the assembly reconvenes, building trust will require more than just legal victories; it will need consistent accountability and open communication with constituents. In the meantime the political actors will likely keep testing each other's limits, and that could either sharpen democratic practices or push the house into further stalemate. Only time will tell which path the Lagos Assembly will tread as it tries to balance power, reform, and the expectations of its citizens.
James Lawyer
April 18, 2025 AT 03:14While the emotional narratives dominate the coverage, it is worth noting the legal basis cited by the court. The judgment referenced specific sections of the state’s constitution that mandate a formal notice and an investigative committee prior to any speaker’s removal. This procedural safeguard is designed to prevent exactly the kind of abrupt ouster witnessed earlier this year. The decision therefore reinforces the principle that even political majorities must respect due process.
Abby Culbertson
April 18, 2025 AT 06:00I'm fed up with all this drama.
Awolumate Muhammed Abayomi
April 18, 2025 AT 08:47We all want stability and progress in Lagos. Let’s keep the conversation focused on solutions rather than endless blame. Together we can push for transparent governance that benefits everyone.