President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is currently hosting a critical meeting with members of the Lagos State House of Assembly, including Speaker Mudashiru Obasa and former Speaker Mojisola Meranda, at the Presidential Villa. The closed-door session, which began after 2:00 pm on Wednesday, follows a turbulent period marked by Obasa’s impeachment and reinstatement. The lawmakers arrived in a Toyota Coaster bus, with Obasa joining later at 3:00 pm, signaling ongoing divisions as discussions continue past 3:45 pm WAT.
A Leadership Saga
The meeting comes weeks after Obasa’s dramatic removal on January 13, 2025, when 32 of 40 Assembly members voted him out over allegations of misconduct and authoritarianism. Mojisola Meranda briefly took over as Speaker—becoming Lagos’ first female in the role—until APC pressure, led by Tinubu and the Governance Advisory Council, reinstated Obasa on March 3. Meranda’s 49-day tenure ended with her resignation “for peace,” highlighting the party’s firm grip on the Assembly.
Tinubu’s Bid for Stability
Tinubu, a key figure in Lagos politics, appears intent on resolving the rift between Obasa and Meranda’s factions. The Speaker’s reinstatement followed interventions by APC heavyweights like Chief Bisi Akande and Aremo Segun Osoba, but tensions linger. Obasa’s rumored 2027 gubernatorial ambitions and his clashes with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu have further complicated the political landscape, making this meeting an important moment for party unity.
For now, the details of the discussions remain under wraps, with the Assembly having adjourned indefinitely to allow for further consultations. What is clear, however, is that President Tinubu’s intervention shows his enduring role as the arbiter of Lagos politics. Whether this meeting will fully resolve the underlying tensions or merely paper over them remains to be seen, but its outcome will undoubtedly shape the trajectory of governance in Nigeria’s most populous state.
