The ongoing leadership tussle in the Lagos State House of Assembly may soon be resolved following high-level interventions within the All Progressives Congress (APC). Sources indicate that both the impeached Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, and the current Speaker, Mojisola Meranda, may step aside to allow a consensus candidate emerge.
The resolution efforts are being led by prominent APC figures, including former governors Chief Bisi Akande (Osun), Segun Osoba (Ogun), and Akinwunmi Ambode (Lagos), under directives from President Bola Tinubu. Their intervention follows the failure of the Governance Advisory Council (GAC) to settle the crisis.
The dispute began on January 13, 2025, when 36 lawmakers voted to remove Obasa, citing allegations of poor leadership, high-handedness, and mismanagement. Meranda, then deputy speaker, was installed in his place. However, Obasa, who was in the U.S. at the time, rejected his removal and insisted he was still the legitimate Speaker.
A crucial meeting held at the Lagos Governor’s Lodge in Marina on Sunday saw key APC stakeholders deliberate on a lasting solution. According to a GAC member, Chief Muraina Taiwo, the panel has shortlisted seven ranking lawmakers from Lagos West as potential replacements for the speakership. The selection process is guided by the principle of seniority, with lawmakers who have served at least two terms being prioritized.
Among the shortlisted names, sources indicate that David Setonji, a three-term lawmaker from Badagry Constituency II and the current Chief Whip, is a strong contender. Setonji, a former deputy chief whip and ex-chairman of the Nigerian Institution of Civil Engineers, Lagos chapter, is considered experienced and well-positioned for the role.
Party leaders reportedly ruled out selecting a speaker from Lagos Central to maintain a political balance, as Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu hails from the same senatorial district.
Additionally, Obasa, who has taken legal action to challenge his removal, may be asked to withdraw his lawsuit as part of the political resolution. Insiders suggest that the lawmakers opposing him feel they have already secured victory and see no need for further conflict.
While no final decision has been reached, sources within the APC expect a resolution within the coming week. The Chairman of the GAC, Chief Tajudeen Olusi, confirmed that the party is actively mediating and will announce an official resolution once the process is concluded.
