The decision to return Mudashiru Obasa as Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly will have negative implications for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 general elections, some of the lawmakers informed TheScrutinyNG on Tuesday.
Following the interventions of party leaders, especially President Bola Tinubu, Obasa, who was on January 13 sacked by 36 lawmakers in the 40-member House, returned to the Speaker’s seat following the resignation of former Speaker Mrs. Mojisola Lasbat Meranda, during the plenary.
One of the lawmakers, a ranking member informed our correspondent that they were ‘forced to take the painful decision of returning Obasa as Speaker’.
“I have read some reports online where some people described us as cowards and said we should have continued to insist that we don’t want him (Obasa) again. I believe we have done our best and it is the right time for us to retreat in deference to the president and other party leaders who wanted him to return”.
“We held several meetings with the GAC and inform them that we don’t want him again. On several occasions, we also passed a vote of confidence on Meranda. Even last week when he stormed the House, we addressed the a joint press conference and said we don’t want this man as our Speaker again but the party leaders insisted that he must lead us. We bowed to party supremacy against our wish and that explains why some of us were emotional on Monday” he said.
Another lawmaker who also spoke with our correspondent said trouble may brew in the House again as the issues that led to the decision to remove Obasa as Speaker were not addressed.
He said while the lawmakers will respect Obasa’s office, the House cannot remain together as one again.
“The decision to impose him (Obasa) on us will surely have implication on the politics of the state. One, that action has created a sharp division and enmity in the House. No matter how he tries, the House can never remain the same again. We will respect his office as Speaker but we will have nothing to do with him. The reality is that, we can never move or roll as one again”.
“Going forward, I believe this will also influence the 2027 elections in Lagos State. We can never go into any election again as one family. In 2023, we went into the election as one family, yet we lost Lagos in the presidential election and struggled to retain the governorship. Now, we will be going to the 2027 election as a bitterly divided House. So, what do you expect?”.
“2027 is still far but I really don’t see anything changing, if not, it may even get worse. Nobody can say with certainty what will be but definitely, it is not going to be anything pleasant”.
“Two, the legislature and the executive can never roll together again. Obasa and Governor Sanwo-Olu can never work harmoniously again and the leaders know it. So, it is going to be strictly business. No formality or camaraderie of any sort. For now, everybody will be watching his back” he said.
When asked if Obasa will resign to pave the way for the election of another speaker, the lawmaker said “ From the look of things, I don’t think so. I think he will serve out his term as Speaker. That is what the party leader wants”.
