The removal of Mudashiru Obasa as Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly has caused deep divisions within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state. At the same time, opposition parties are openly expressing their willingness to welcome the embattled politician if he chooses to leave the party.
Obasa was impeached on January 13, 2025, by a majority of lawmakers who accused him of misconduct and financial misappropriation. His removal has led to mixed reactions among APC leaders, particularly within the Governance Advisory Council (GAC), the party’s highest decision-making body in Lagos.
Some GAC members, such as Senator Anthony Adefuye and Chief Muraina Taiwo, have criticized the process that led to Obasa’s removal. Adefuye described the impeachment as questionable, while Taiwo, in a WhatsApp message, noted, “The lawmakers’ action is illegal. It shows total disregard and clear disrespect for leadership. The GAC is split over the matter, but we will all defer to our leader, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to resolve the crisis.”
However, another GAC member, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, dismissed their statements, calling them “childish and inconsequential.” He urged party members to avoid making premature remarks about the issue.
Meanwhile, the Lagos State House of Assembly has stated that Obasa is expected to return to the House before any further decisions, including a possible investigation, are made. However, as of Friday, it remained unclear whether he had appeared before the Assembly, as the House spokesperson, Olukayode Ogundipe, did not respond to calls.
As the crisis continues, opposition parties in Lagos have indicated their readiness to accept Obasa if he decides to leave the APC.
Benedict Tai, Vice Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos, noted that the party would implement necessary checks if Obasa chose to join them. “If we accept him into the party, we will put checks and balances in place because no one can just come in and demand a position. The person must have spent years in the party. We need to be sure he isn’t coming to disrupt the party, as some have done in the past,” he stated.
Tai also noted that the ongoing turmoil in the APC presents an opportunity for the PDP to regain political ground in Lagos. “If disunity is an obstacle to their party, then we hope it worsens for them. They are our main challenge. The current situation in Lagos is favorable for the PDP, provided we learn from our mistakes and take advantage of their shortcomings,” he added.
Similarly, the Labour Party (LP) in Lagos has expressed its openness to welcoming Obasa ahead of the 2027 governorship election. The party’s Chairman, Pastor Dayo Ekong, noted that Obasa would be accepted if his interests aligned with the LP’s vision and principles.
“If the impeached Speaker chooses to join the Labour Party, he will be welcomed because our party is open to everyone. As a party driven by the right ideals, we don’t want to interfere in APC affairs. However, if Obasa decides to join us, he will be accepted, provided his interests align with what the LP stands for,” Ekong stated.
When asked whether Obasa would receive special treatment due to his political status and rumored governorship ambition, Ekong clarified that there would be no automatic privileges. “There are no automatic rights anywhere. People were at the party before he came in. What we will do is allow everyone to go through the primaries and test their popularity. It’s not about granting an automatic ticket to anyone.
“Don’t forget that the 2023 LP governorship candidate is still in the party. But when we get to that bridge, we will cross it.”
