The Governance Advisory Council (GAC) has denied any role in the removal of Mudashiru Obasa as the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly. The council, which serves as the highest advisory body to the Lagos State Governor, made its position clear through its Chairman, Prince Tajudeen Olusi, on Friday.
Olusi stated that the GAC was not consulted before the impeachment took place. Speaking to journalists at his residence, he noted that the lawmakers did not seek input from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos or the advisory council before taking action against Obasa.
“Members of the GAC are not members of the Lagos State House of Assembly to allegedly be behind the removal of Obasa. It can’t be true. We read it also that morning,” Olusi said. He further explained that the lawmakers acted independently and did not involve the party leadership.
The leadership crisis in the House of Assembly resulted in Obasa being replaced by his deputy, Mojisola Meranda. Olusi stressed that the council should not be dragged into the matter, as it was purely a dispute between Obasa and his colleagues. He noted that the lawmakers should have raised their concerns with the party before taking drastic action.
Olusi also pointed out that the removal of a speaker is not solely within the lawmakers’ power. “Nobody can become a member of the House of Assembly unless sponsored by a political party. And the sponsors are the inspectors,” he noted. He insisted that the APC, as the ruling party, should have been involved in such a major decision.
Meanwhile, the APC has set up a high-powered committee to resolve the crisis. The committee, led by Chief Bisi Akande, includes prominent party leaders such as Aremo Olusegun Osoba and Chief Pius Akinyelure. According to Olusi, discussions are ongoing with Obasa, Meranda, and other key figures to find a solution.
He also addressed dissenting views within the GAC, stating that any differing opinions were personal and did not reflect the council’s official stance. “One day, and very soon, the matter will be settled. Disputes and differences are facts of life, and mechanisms for resolving them exist,” he noted.
The political tension escalated further when Obasa returned to the Assembly complex, insisting that he was still the Speaker. He was accompanied by security personnel and told reporters that he was reclaiming his position. His return came on the same day that security details assigned to Meranda were briefly withdrawn before being reinstated later.
