Politics

IMPEACHMENT: Lagos Ex-Speaker, Obasa’s ‘Sins’ Revealed

Published

8 months ago

January 14, 2025

In a dramatic turn of events, the Lagos State House of Assembly yesterday impeached Speaker Mudashiru Obasa over alleged gross misconduct.

His removal while he was in the United States followed allegations of misappropriation of funds, high-handedness and lack of transparency in the management of the Assembly’s affairs.

The impeachment sparked jubilation among lawmakers.

Obasa, in his third term as Speaker since 2015, represents Agege Constituency I.

Femi Saheed, who represents Kosofe Constituency II, moved the motion for the impeachment.

Citing Section 92(2) (C) of the 1999 Constitution, Saheed accused Obasa of gross misconduct and poor leadership.

He accused the Speaker of perpetual lateness, high-handedness, and intimidation of members.

The impeachment motion was seconded by Aro Moshood Abiodun (Ikorodu II).

Thirty-two of the 40-member House affirmed the impeachment through a voice vote.

Following Obasa’s impeachment, his deputy, Mrs. Mojisola Lasbat Meranda, who represents Apapa Constituency 1, was elected the new Speaker.

She made history as the first female to occupy the office.

Fatai Mojeed (Ibeju-Lekki I) was elected the Deputy Speaker.

Amid the charged atmosphere, the House suspended the Clerk of the Assembly, Olalekan Onafeko, and replaced him with Mr. Abubakar Taiwo Ottun in acting capacity.

The impeachment, which happened in the early hours, saw the Assembly premises cordoned off by police.

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A heavy presence of security operatives was visible both within and outside the premises.

A group of protesters from Obasa’s constituency stormed the Assembly, but were rounded up and detained inside a Black Maria from where they sang “On your mandate, we shall stand” while begging for water.

The Speaker’s photographs at different locations inside the Assembly were removed.

Assembly workers were seen beaming with smiles as the events unfolded.

Obasa’s removal long overdue, says Oki

A chieftain of the APC in Lagos, Fuad Oki, said Obasa’s removal was long overdue.

Speaking on Channels, he said Obasa rebuffed several attempts by the party leadership to resolve issues.

He dismissed insinuations that the former speaker was removed over his governorship ambition.

He said: “I think Obasa’s removal was coming late. For any discerning mind, events in the last three months indicated that Obasa’s days were numbered.

“In the last 18 months, there have been signs.

“Don’t forget the event that happened on the day Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu presented the 2025 Appropriation Bill.

“Not only was the governor kept waiting for over four hours, but all the leadership of the party and all dignitaries who went to witness the epoch event were kept waiting for over five hours without apologies.

“And when Obasa came into the Chambers, he did not extend any courtesies; rather, he presented himself as the emperor.

“That showed clearly that his days were numbered.

“Before President Bola Ahmed Tinubu came for his holiday, there had been a series of meetings to resolve grey areas.

“In fact, there was a particular meeting that involved the Governance Advisory Council (GAC), the governor, the ousted Speaker and some other political leaders.

“It is not good to have a political office holder whose ways cannot be checked and corrected.”

Obasa’s ‘sins’

Obasa was accused of financial irregularities, which included a N44billion allocated for vehicles.

There was also the allegation of N15.6billion allocated for office construction, amid claims that existing facilities were functional.

Sometime in October 2020, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) interrogated Obasa for owning over 60 bank accounts.

He was also accused of awarding contracts to himself, using different fronts and spending N80 million as allowance during the training of wives of 20 lawmakers in Dubai.

His removal came barely a month after he was accused by a group, Lagos State Anti-Corruption Coalition, of spending N17 billion to construct a gate that leads to the Assembly complex and N200 million on a thanksgiving service.

In 2023, the Assembly faced a backlash after rejecting 17 out of 39 commissioner-nominees.

Obasa had denied any rift with the governor, with the GAC – the highest decision-making body of the APC in Lagos – intervening.

Obasa also got into trouble over the contentious 2024 Lagos State Local Council Administration law.

The bill sought to replace the existing 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) created in 2003 with democratically elected local governments, recognising only 20 LGAs as outlined in the 1999 Constitution.

‘House pledges to work with Executive’

The new leadership has pledged a harmonious relationship with the executive arm of government.

House Committee on Information Chairman Mr Stephen Ogundipe (APC- Oshodi/Isolo I) said under the new Speaker, the Assembly would ensure the executive arm enjoys the support of the legislature.

The lawmaker said a good relationship between the executive and legislature was necessary to achieve the development goals of the current administration in the state.

Ogundipe said: “There is no division in the House over the development.

“All members have pledged allegiance to the new Speaker, Mrs Mojisola Meranda, and she has since settled down in office.

“She has assured of legislature’s harmonious working relationship with the executive and that all hands must be on deck to ensure the continued development of the state.”
NATION

Politics

Rhodes-Vivour Dumps Labour Party, Joins ADC

Published

12 hours ago

September 6, 2025

Editor

The former Labour Party governorship candidate in the 2023 election in Lagos State, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, has formally declared for the African Democratic Congress.

Rhodes-Vivour made the announcement at an event held in Lagos on Saturday.

The development came on the heels of a coalition of opposition parties under the ADC platform seeking to wrestle power from the ruling All Progressives Congress in the 2027 general elections.

The party officially formed the coalition in July, courting prominent figures in a bid to build a formidable third force ahead of the polls.

Speaking during the declaration, Rhodes-Vivour described the move as part of a broader coalition.

He said, “I am happy to become part of this family. I’m looking forward to the union and governance that this party will bring to Nigerians. My prayer is that God will grant our leaders and the party’s structure the wisdom to come together and define a new path for our beloved country.”

The politician also called for unity among opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.

“This is a coalition that is meant to rescue Nigeria. I have said since after the 2023 elections that we cannot afford to divide the opposition going into the next election. We must come together, united through a robust coalition that will stand a chance in 2027 to deliver this country,” he added.

Rhodes-Vivour had accused the police on Friday of attempting to frustrate the event, which was scheduled to take place in the Alimosho area of the state.

In a statement issued by his aide, Olalekan Anjolaiya, the organisers were said to have duly notified the police about the event.

It was, however, gathered that security operatives barred Rhodes-Vivour and his supporters from gaining access to the venue on Saturday morning, before it was later moved to another location within the local government area.

Reacting to the incident, he said, “I’m going to address the press later on the events that happened today and those that happened since yesterday. But with this speech, I just want to confirm that I am joining the ADC coalition.”

The Chairman of the ADC in the state, George Ashiru, said the move signalled the strengthening of an opposition coalition ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He also described Rhodes-Vivour’s defection as a historic affirmation of a coalition that had been in the works since the last election.

He said, “Today we are having one of the most important affirmation programmes where our coalition partners from one of the key blocs in the Labour Party are joining this wonderful family of Nigerians, the African Democratic Congress.

“We are not affirming one man, we are affirming a movement, but every movement has a leader, and what brother Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour represents is the leadership of a movement that shook Lagos in the last election.”

According to him, the coalition was built on a foundation of communication that began during the 2023 polls and had now matured into a common platform to challenge the dominance of the ruling All Progressives Congress.

Also speaking at the event, a representative of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Professor Ola Olateju, urged party members to believe in their capacity to provide an alternative for Nigerians.

He said, “We should not look at ourselves as if we are not able or not competent to rescue Nigeria. Anybody here could become anything. There is equal opportunity for everybody irrespective of ethnic group, agenda or class. ADC is not just a political party; it’s a movement, a movement of the people. It is an exodus. We are moving in order to rescue Nigeria.”

Politics

NNPP Expels Reps Member, Drags Him To Court

Published

13 hours ago

September 6, 2025

Editor

The Kano State chapter of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) has expelled Abdulmumin Jibrin, member representing Kiru/Bebeji Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, over alleged insubordination and failure to remit statutory party dues.

Announcing the decision at a press conference on Saturday, NNPP state chairman, Hon. Hashim Sulaiman Dungurawa, said the move was necessary to uphold party discipline and supremacy.

Dungurawa accused Jibrin, a former chairman of the House Committee on Appropriation, of demarketing the party’s national leader and 2023 presidential candidate, Sen. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, while allegedly aligning with President Bola Tinubu and the ruling APC.

He said Jibrin’s repeated media appearances, including a recent interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, discredited the party’s principles and projected views that did not represent NNPP’s official position.

“If he was truly strong politically, he would have won his election under the APC in 2019, but he failed. It was Kwankwasiyya and NNPP that gave him victory in 2023. Now he is deceiving himself, thinking he is strong,” Dungurawa said.

Jibrin, who has met President Tinubu twice at the Presidential Villa in recent weeks, has publicly hinted at a possible defection, saying he remains open to joining any party, including APC, PDP, ADC, or PRP.

Dungurawa disclosed that a reconciliation committee was initially set up to engage Jibrin after his first interview, but the lawmaker “crossed the line” by granting a subsequent interview to DCL Hausa, where he openly discussed his next political moves.

“Instead of dialogue, he went further to work against our interest and openly declared loyalty outside the party. That is why we expelled him. He has no value to add to NNPP,” Dungurawa said, adding that the party will drag Jibrin to court to recover unpaid dues.

On speculation that Jibrin may return to the APC, Dungurawa said such a move would not affect the NNPP’s strength.

“Politics is about groups and coalitions. Kwankwasiyya remains solidly behind our leader, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso,” he stressed.

Politics

Why We Are Yet To Recognise ADC Leadership – INEC

Published

13 hours ago

September 6, 2025

Editor

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said that the African Democratic Congress (ADC)
is yet to comply with the extant rules required for the formal recognition of Senator David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola as its National Chairman and National Secretary, respectively.

The lack of compliance, INEC stated, renders all official documents and communications bearing their signatures null and void until the process is completed.

Speaking with newsmen, INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, through his Chief Press Secretary, Rotimi Oyekanmi, said:

“Ask ADC if they have truly complied with all the requirements. They visited the Commission recently, and we told them what the problem was. They are aware. Please get in touch with Bolaji Abdullahi, their spokesperson, who was part of the delegation. He ought to have briefed journalists about their visit and what transpired.”

On the implications for ADC candidates in upcoming elections, Oyekanmi said:
“I believe the party will comply with extant rules. Once they do, they won’t have any problem.”

Although INEC did not specify the outstanding requirements, it was gathered that ADC is expected to submit sample signatures of the National Chairman and National Secretary, along with other documentation in line with its constitution.

INEC regulations require political parties to submit detailed resolutions, verified signatures of authorised officials, and evidence of adherence to constitutional procedures before any leadership change can be recognised.

Reacting to the development, ADC’s National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, said the delay was “largely administrative” and confirmed that the party made the required submissions to INEC last Thursday.

“We have had clarity now, and we made the required submission to INEC last Thursday. We are hopeful that everything will be resolved in the coming week,” he said.

The party has repeatedly accused unnamed individuals of attempts to frustrate its growth ahead of the 2027 general elections and other off-cycle polls.