One month after his contentious removal as Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa has yet to attend any legislative sittings, further fueling political tensions surrounding his ouster.
Obasa was removed from office on January 13, 2025, by a majority vote of the 40 lawmakers, who accused him of financial misappropriation and abuse of office. His removal took place while he was in the United States.
Upon his return to Lagos on January 25, 2025, Obasa rejected the allegations and challenged his colleagues to substantiate their claims. He has also refused to acknowledge his successor, Mojisola Meranda, as the new Speaker, insisting that his removal was unconstitutional.
Speaking to journalists at the Speaker’s Lodge in GRA Ikeja after his return, Obasa maintained that he remains the rightful Speaker, arguing that due process was not followed in his removal.
“My status in the House? I firmly believe I am still the Speaker until the proper procedures are followed.
“If you want to remove me, do it the right way, and I won’t contest it. I am a Muslim, and I believe in fate. But let’s ensure due process is followed,” he stated.
Despite his return, Obasa has not been seen at the Assembly, while Meranda has presided over at least five plenary sessions since his removal. She has swiftly reorganised the House, appointing new principal officers and committees, signaling a shift in leadership.
The sixth plenary session since Obasa’s removal is set for today, February 13, 2025, but his continued absence remains notable.
Obasa’s prolonged absence has raised legal concerns about his position as a lawmaker. However, under Chapter 5, Part II, Section 109 (1)(f) of the Nigerian Constitution (1999), a legislator’s seat can only be declared vacant if they miss more than one-third of the total sittings in a year without valid justification.
For now, Obasa is still within the legal threshold, but continued absenteeism could put his legislative seat at risk.
A source close to Obasa told Newsmen on Wednesday that the House of Assembly remains “on recess,” echoing remarks by the Vice Chairman of Agege Local Government, Oluwagbenga Abiola.
“The House is still on recess,” the source insisted.
Speaking to Newsmen on Sunday, Abiola argued that the removal process was flawed, asserting that the House had not officially resumed from recess.
“The House was on recess. The mace, the symbol of authority, had already recognized our closure and scheduled reopening.
“To resume from recess, the clerk of the House must issue a letter to the Speaker, and the Speaker must approve the reason for resumption,” he explained.
Abiola maintained that the House was officially set to resume on February 18, 2025, suggesting that any sessions held before then were irregular.
