Politics

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

Published

1 year 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.

Read Also: Recapitalisation: Bank mergers, acquisitions loom
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

PDP Loses Five Reps, APC Two In Fresh Defections

Published

20 hours ago

April 21, 2026

Editor

A fresh wave of defections swept through the House of Representatives on Tuesday as lawmakers realigned across party lines in what appears to be early positioning for the 2027 general elections.

At the resumption of plenary after the Easter break, the Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, read out a series of defection letters, reflecting a growing fluidity within Nigeria’s political space.

He dismissed concerns that the trend signalled an attempt to edge the country toward a one-party system, insisting instead that it underscores democratic freedom.

“This is to show the country that no party is stiffled. People are leaving the majority party to the minority parties and the minority parties to the majority party. This is the beauty of democracy,” Kalu said.

One of the notable movements came from Lagos, where Thaddeus Attah, representing Eti-Osa Federal Constituency, dumped the Labour Party for the African Democratic Congress.

In his letter, Attah attributed his decision to “the protracted crisis in the leadership of the LP,” which he said has hampered effective representation of his constituents in recent months.

The Peoples Democratic Party emerged as the biggest casualty of the latest round of defections, losing five members.

Among them, Abubakar Abdul from Niger State defected to the All Progressives Congress, while Yakubu Noma (Kebbi) joined the ADC and Ibrahim Mohammed (also from Kebbi) moved to the APC.

In Osun State, two lawmakers—Mudashiru Alani (Ayedire/Iwo/Ola-Oluwa) and Adetunji Olusoji (Odo-Otin/Ifelodun/Boripe)—left the PDP for the Accord Party.

However, the APC also recorded losses. David Fuoh (Taraba) defected to the PDP, while Bashir Zubair (Kaduna) joined the ADC, highlighting the two-way nature of the shifting alliances.

Defections are not new in Nigeria’s political landscape, particularly as election cycles approach. With less than two years to the 2027 polls, lawmakers are increasingly recalibrating their positions in response to internal party disputes, electoral calculations, and evolving regional dynamics.

The current wave is partly driven by lingering leadership crises within parties—most notably in the PDP and LP—as both major and smaller parties intensify efforts to strengthen their ranks ahead of primaries.

For many legislators, party affiliation is often influenced by prospects for re-election, access to party structures, and alignment with influential political blocs at the state and national levels.

Since the inauguration of the 10th National Assembly in 2023, the APC has maintained a numerical advantage in the House, but opposition parties have continued to jostle for relevance through strategic defections and coalition-building.

The emergence of parties like the ADC as beneficiaries of defections suggests a gradual diversification of the political space beyond the traditional dominance of the APC and PDP.

Analysts say the trend may intensify in the coming months as parties finalise their internal structures and aspirants begin to test their popularity ahead of primaries.

For now, Tuesday’s developments reinforce a familiar pattern: in Nigeria’s legislature, party loyalty often remains fluid, especially when electoral stakes are high.

The House adjourned plenary to Wednesday in honour of Kano lawmaker Hassan Danjuma, who died on April 10, 2026, at the age of 66.

Politics

Delta North Youths Reject Okowa’s Senatorial Ambition

Published

3 days ago

April 19, 2026

Editor

A coalition of youths from the nine local government areas of Delta North has rejected the reported senatorial ambition of former Delta State governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, ahead of the 2027 elections.

The position was made known at a press conference in Agbor, where the group’s spokesman, Benjamin Atagana Ofochi, accused Okowa of dominating the zone’s political space for decades.

The development comes days after political figures within the All Progressives Congress (APC) reportedly urged the former governor to contest for the Delta North senatorial seat in 2027.

The youth group argued that Okowa should step aside to allow other aspirants to emerge, citing what it described as long-standing control of political offices in the state since 1991.

They also referenced allegations of financial misconduct currently being handled by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), urging him to focus on addressing those issues.

The coalition further raised concerns over what it described as an attempt to concentrate political power within one family, alleging that Okowa’s daughter is also seeking elective office.

According to the group, such developments could limit opportunities for broader participation in governance within the district.

The youths called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the APC leadership, and party delegates to ensure a transparent primary process for selecting candidates in Delta North.

They warned that they would mobilise against any perceived imposition of candidates, insisting on what they described as inclusive and competitive politics in the district.

Politics

VIDEO: I Will Beat Tinubu Flat In Free, Fair Election — Dino Melaye Boasts

Published

3 days ago

April 19, 2026

Editor

Former Kogi West Senator, Dino Melaye, has stated that he would defeat President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in a free and fair election.

Melaye made the declaration during an interview with Seun Okinbaloye on Mic On, where he criticised the current administration and expressed confidence in his chances if given a level playing field.

He argued that any presidential aspirant under the African Democratic Congress (ADC) would perform better than President Tinubu.

“Anybody among those interested in the presidency in ADC would do one million times better than Tinubu. They can never be a worse president than Tinubu. They can never be.”

Expressing confidence in his own chances, he stated, “Me? Dino Melaye. Let’s go. Let’s go on a free and fair election.”

Melaye further described the president as unpopular among Nigerians, adding, “Today, Bola Tinubu is the most unpopular politician in Nigeria.”

He insisted he would secure a decisive victory in an election against Tinubu if the process is credible.

The former lawmaker also called for an open electoral process, warning against any attempt to undermine democracy.

“Let him allow a free and fair contest. And if he doesn’t allow it, we will make him conduct our election because he doesn’t want election. He wants to be Kabiyesi. He wants to be Igwe. We will not allow that to happen in Nigeria. It will not happen.”

On political alliances in ADC, Melaye dismissed interest in joint ticket arrangements, emphasising his focus on unseating the current administration.

“My brother, I am not interested in any joint ticket or non-joint ticket. My own for now is that we must send Tinubu away.”

He added that he would support any candidate who emerges through ADC processes.